servile

adjective

ser·vile ˈsər-vəl How to pronounce servile (audio)

-ˌvī(-ə)l

: of or befitting a menial position

: meanly or cravenly submissive : abject

servilely

ˈsər-və(l)-lē How to pronounce servile (audio)

-ˌvī(-ə)l-lē

adverb

servileness

ˈsər-vəl-nəs How to pronounce servile (audio)

-ˌvī(-ə)l-

noun

servility

(ˌ)sər-ˈvi-lə-tē How to pronounce servile (audio)

noun

Did you know?

Latin served us servile with the help of servilis, itself from servus, the Latin word for "slave." Servus is also an ancestor of serve, service, and servitude. Synonyms of servile in English include subservient, slavish, and obsequious. Subservient implies the cringing manner of someone who is very conscious of having a subordinate position. Slavish suggests abject or debased servitude. Obsequious implies fawning or sycophantic compliance and exaggerated deference of manner. Servile suggests the fawning behavior of one in forced servitude.

Example Sentences

had always maintained a servile attitude around people with money

Recent Examples on the Web The ignition of her libido, triggered by her meeting the juke-joint chanteuse Shug Avery (a seductively on-target Danielle J. Summons), liberates Payton’s persona: The shoulders relax, the mask of servile pain falls away.

Peter Marks, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2022 In Ukrainka’s play, Oksana’s husband is servile, obligingly performing Ukrainian songs and dances for the czar’s entertainment, while the artist in Zabuzhko’s novel is wracked by an inferiority complex familiar to citizens of dominated nations.

Uilleam Blacker, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2022 Yet, as the technology gap with the West narrows, China's desire for self-reliance rises, and once-servile entrepreneurs have become increasingly outspoken in their critique of China's economic system.

Sonja Opper For Cnn Business Perspectives, CNN, 8 Nov. 2021 If China’s leaders are as wise as its propagandists are servile, the Middle Kingdom’s future is secure.

Walter Russell Mead, WSJ, 8 Nov. 2021 These conditions led them to become stereotyped as industrious and servile, which affected how employers treated them.

NBC News, 4 Oct. 2021 For India’s mostly servile media, this is a striking break from the usual after seven years of Modi.

Debasish Roy Chowdhury, Time, 3 May 2021 Julie Andrews played Cinderella—neat as a new pin and not remotely servile.

Carol Dyhouse, Time, 19 Apr. 2021 As a result of this sort of culture, the stereotype of dancers as servile bodies that are better seen than heard unfortunately calcified long ago.

Sydney Skybetter, Wired, 7 Feb. 2021 See More

单词	servility
释义	servile adjective ser·vile ˈsər-vəl -ˌvī(-ə)l 1 : of or befitting a menial position 2 : meanly or cravenly submissive : abject servilely ˈsər-və(l)-lē -ˌvī(-ə)l-lē adverb servileness ˈsər-vəl-nəs -ˌvī(-ə)l- noun servility (ˌ)sər-ˈvi-lə-tē noun Did you know? Latin served us servile with the help of servilis, itself from servus, the Latin word for "slave." Servus is also an ancestor of serve, service, and servitude. Synonyms of servile in English include subservient, slavish, and obsequious. Subservient implies the cringing manner of someone who is very conscious of having a subordinate position. Slavish suggests abject or debased servitude. Obsequious implies fawning or sycophantic compliance and exaggerated deference of manner. Servile suggests the fawning behavior of one in forced servitude. Synonyms abject base humble menial slavish See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences had always maintained a servile attitude around people with money Recent Examples on the Web The ignition of her libido, triggered by her meeting the juke-joint chanteuse Shug Avery (a seductively on-target Danielle J. Summons), liberates Payton’s persona: The shoulders relax, the mask of servile pain falls away. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2022 In Ukrainka’s play, Oksana’s husband is servile, obligingly performing Ukrainian songs and dances for the czar’s entertainment, while the artist in Zabuzhko’s novel is wracked by an inferiority complex familiar to citizens of dominated nations. Uilleam Blacker, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2022 Yet, as the technology gap with the West narrows, China's desire for self-reliance rises, and once-servile entrepreneurs have become increasingly outspoken in their critique of China's economic system. Sonja Opper For Cnn Business Perspectives, CNN, 8 Nov. 2021 If China’s leaders are as wise as its propagandists are servile, the Middle Kingdom’s future is secure. Walter Russell Mead, WSJ, 8 Nov. 2021 These conditions led them to become stereotyped as industrious and servile, which affected how employers treated them. NBC News, 4 Oct. 2021 For India’s mostly servile media, this is a striking break from the usual after seven years of Modi. Debasish Roy Chowdhury, Time, 3 May 2021 Julie Andrews played Cinderella—neat as a new pin and not remotely servile. Carol Dyhouse, Time, 19 Apr. 2021 As a result of this sort of culture, the stereotype of dancers as servile bodies that are better seen than heard unfortunately calcified long ago. Sydney Skybetter, Wired, 7 Feb. 2021 See More Word History Etymology Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French servil, borrowed from Latin servīlis "of a slave, slavish, abject," from servus "slave" + -īlis "pertaining to or characteristic of (such persons)" — more at serve entry 1 First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Kids Definition servile adjective ser·vile ˈsər-vəl 1 : of or suitable to a slave servile work 2 : very obedient and trying too hard to please servility noun as in slavery the state of being an enslaved person the joy that emancipation must have brought to people who had known only servility since birth Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance slavery servitude enslavement thralldom thraldom bondage yoke thrall serfdom subjection subjugation peonage captivity dependence dependance imprisonment incarceration enchainment Antonyms & Near Antonyms freedom liberty emancipation liberation manumission independence enfranchisement autonomy sovereignty self-government sovranty See More
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servile

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

noun