slavish
adjective
slav·ish ˈslā-vish 
sometimes ˈsla-
1
a
: of or characteristic of someone held in forced servitude
especially : basely or abjectly servile
b
archaic : despicable, low
I have done with slavish fear of disaster.
Charlotte Brontë
Charlotte Brontë… in a sense it is infinitely reasonable …. But there is such a thing as a mean infinity, a base and slavish eternity. G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton2
archaic : oppressive, tyrannical
No minion of despotism ever ventured to advance more slavish doctrines … George McDuffie
George McDuffie3
disapproving : copying obsequiously or without originality : imitative
slavishly adverb
slavishness noun
Synonyms
- apish
- canned
- emulative
- epigonic
- epigonous
- formulaic
- imitative
- mimetic
- mimic
- unoriginal
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a politician and his slavish followers He has been criticized for his slavish devotion to the rules.
Recent Examples on the Web This is a freewheeling fever-dream interpretation of an iconic Hollywood creation, not a slavish facsimile. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2022 Visitors to this shrine audition for Peter’s approval: slavish assistant Karl (Stefan Crepon), lead actress and muse Sidonie (Isabelle Adjani), his daughter Gabriele (Aminthe Audiard), and his mother (Hanna Schygulla). Armond White, National Review, 2 Sep. 2022 Well, that Rudolph Giuliani is a distant memory to many, obscured by his conspiracy mongering and slavish devotion to Donald Trump. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 8 June 2022 But what’s interesting is that in a party whose devotion to Trump has been nothing short of slavish, DeSantis has been the only figure willing to step forward to challenge Trump’s positions. Daniel Strauss, The New Republic, 22 Feb. 2022 Our slavish adherence to the concept of engineering art extends far beneath the surface of the T.33's body. Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2022 That his friend was Princess Lee Radziwill, a fixture of the high society to which Capote remained slavish, was naturally a major component. Mark Peikert, Town & Country, 28 Jan. 2022 Trump, after all, was not supported these past few years by only his most slavish sycophants. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2021 Nothing but slavish allegiance to Donald Trump's Big Lie about the 2020 election and a desperate desire to prevent citizens from voting as a way to prevent Republicans from losing elections. Star Tribune, 13 May 2021 See More
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2022 Visitors to this shrine audition for Peter’s approval: slavish assistant Karl (Stefan Crepon), lead actress and muse Sidonie (Isabelle Adjani), his daughter Gabriele (Aminthe Audiard), and his mother (Hanna Schygulla). Armond White, National Review, 2 Sep. 2022 Well, that Rudolph Giuliani is a distant memory to many, obscured by his conspiracy mongering and slavish devotion to Donald Trump. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 8 June 2022 But what’s interesting is that in a party whose devotion to Trump has been nothing short of slavish, DeSantis has been the only figure willing to step forward to challenge Trump’s positions. Daniel Strauss, The New Republic, 22 Feb. 2022 Our slavish adherence to the concept of engineering art extends far beneath the surface of the T.33's body. Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2022 That his friend was Princess Lee Radziwill, a fixture of the high society to which Capote remained slavish, was naturally a major component. Mark Peikert, Town & Country, 28 Jan. 2022 Trump, after all, was not supported these past few years by only his most slavish sycophants. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2021 Nothing but slavish allegiance to Donald Trump's Big Lie about the 2020 election and a desperate desire to prevent citizens from voting as a way to prevent Republicans from losing elections. Star Tribune, 13 May 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
slavish
adjective
slav·ish ˈslā-vish
: following, copying, or accepting something or someone without questioning
slavish imitators
slavish
adjective
1
as in imitative
using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model slavish imitations of the great masters will never make you a painter in your own right Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- imitative
- imitation
- emulative
- formulaic
- mock
- apish
- copied
- unoriginal
- mimic
- mimetic
- deceptive
- misleading
- false
- fraudulent
- canned
- epigonous
- artificial
- epigonic
- synthetic
- factitious
- reproduced
- cribbed
- perfunctory
- fake
- duplicated
- plagiarized
- sham
- substitute
- counterfeit
- bogus
- uninspired
- reduplicated
- routine
- simulated
- forged
- transcribed
- photocopied
- backup
- man-made
- cut-and-dried
- cut-and-dry
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- original
- true
- archetypal
- genuine
- legitimate
- authentic
- real
- natural
- archetypical
- classic
- bona fide
- ideal
- model
2
as in humble
showing, expressing, or offered in a spirit of humility or unseemly submissiveness the assistant's slavish agreement with his boss's every thought, no matter how half-baked Synonyms & Similar Words
- humble
- servile
- abject
- meek
- menial
- base
- sheepish
- sycophantic
- fawning
- hangdog
- sycophant
- lamblike
- unassuming
- lowly
- modest
- retiring
- demure
- unpretentious
- toadyish
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- superior
- imperious
- arrogant
- supercilious
- haughty
- lordly
- uppity
- high-handed
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of slavish are obsequious, servile, and subservient. While all these words mean "showing or characterized by extreme compliance or abject obedience," slavish suggests abject or debased servility.
the slavish status of migrant farm workers
While in some cases nearly identical to slavish, obsequious implies fawning or sycophantic compliance and exaggerated deference of manner.
waiters who are obsequious in the presence of celebrities
While the synonyms servile and slavish are close in meaning, servile suggests the mean or fawning behavior of a slave.
a political boss and his entourage of servile hangers-on
The meanings of subservient and slavish largely overlap; however, subservient implies the cringing manner of one very conscious of a subordinate position.
domestic help was expected to be properly subservient