Words / C2

uhb-SEEKW-ee-uh-s/əbˈsiːkwiəs/

Obsequious means too eager to please someone more powerful — fawning, not merely polite. Polite is everyday and positive; respectful can be genuine. Obsequious manner / obsequious smile names the excess that makes other people wince. In speech, smarmy or too eager to please is more natural; obsequious is a sharp written judgement. Close cousin of sycophantic, which stresses the hope of gain.

Meaning

Too eager to please someone in a position of power.

Examples

• “His obsequious manner annoyed the interviewer.”
• “The waiter’s obsequious hovering made the table tense.”
• “Obsequious agreement is not the same as loyalty.”

Good to know

Fawning towards power. Everyday: too eager to please / smarmy. Written criticism. Close: sycophantic.

Near in meaning

fawning

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