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| Main Entry: |
kowtow
 [kou-tou, -tou, koh-] 
|
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | grovel |
| Synonyms: | bow, brownnose, cave in, court, cower, cringe, fawn, flatter, fold, genuflect, give in, go along with, kneel, knuckle under, lie down and roll over, pander, prostrate, say uncle, stoop, toe the mark |
| Main Entry: | bow |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | submit, concede |
| Synonyms: | accept, acquiesce, be servile, bend, capitulate, cave, comply, defer, give in, knuckle, knuckle under, kowtow, relent, succumb, surrender, yield |
| Antonyms: | defend, fight, overpower |
| Main Entry: | cower |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hide, hover in fear |
| Synonyms: | apple-polish, blench, bootlick, brownnose, cringe, crouch, draw back, fawn, flinch, grovel, honey*, kowtow, quail, recoil, shrink, skulk, sneak, toady, tremble, truckle, wince |
| Antonyms: | come out |
* = informal/non-formal usage
Example Sentences
- Humanities scholars should not ignore science or reject it in kneejerk fashion, but neither should they kowtow to it.
- Unlike the others, he was apparently unable to kowtow sufficiently and show the respect demanded by them.
| Main Entry: | defer |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | yield |
| Synonyms: | accede, accommodate, acquiesce, adapt, adjust, admit, agree, assent, bow, buckle, capitulate, cave, comply, concede, cringe, fawn, give in to, knuckle, knuckleunder, kowtow, obey, submit, succumb, truckle |
| Antonyms: | advance, force, forge |
| Main Entry: | fawn |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | ingratiate oneself to; serve |
| Synonyms: | abase, apple-polish, be at beck and call, be obsequious, be servile, blandish, bow, brownnose, buddy up, butter up, cajole, cater to, cave in to, cotton, court, cower, crawl, creep, cringe, crouch, curry favor, debase, defer, fall all over, fall on one's knees, flatter, grovel, honey up, invite, jolly, kneel, kowtow, lay it on, lick boots, make up to, massage*, oil, pander, pay court, play up to, scrape, slaver, snow*, stoop, stroke*, submit, toady, truckle, woo*, yield |
| Antonyms: | ignore |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | grovel |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | abase, demean oneself |
| Synonyms: | apple-polish, beg, beg for mercy, beseech, blandish, bootlick, bow and scrape, brown-nose, butter up, cater to, court, cower, crawl, creep, cringe, crouch, eat crow, eat dirt, eat humble pie, fall all over, fawn*, flatter, humble oneself, humor, implore, kiss one's feet, kneel, kowtow, make much of, make up to, pamper, play up to, prostrate*, revere, snivel, soft-soap, stoop, suck up to, truckle, wheedle, yes* |
| Antonyms: | boast |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | ingratiate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | get on the good side of someone |
| Synonyms: | attract, blandish, brownnose, captivate, charm, crawl, flatter, get in with, grovel, hand a line, insinuate oneself, kowtow, play up to, seek favor, truckle |
| Antonyms: | deter, disgust, repel |
| Main Entry: | kneel |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | get down on one's knees |
| Synonyms: | bow, bow down, curtsey, do obeisance, genuflect, kowtow, prostrate oneself, stoop |
| Main Entry: | obeisance |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | salutation |
| Synonyms: | allegiance, bending of the knee, bow, curtsy, deference, fealty, genuflection, homage, honor, kowtow, loyalty, praise, respect, reverence, salaam |
| Antonyms: | bad manners, disobedience, disregard, disrespect |
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2012 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2012 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
