grovelverb [ I ]
uk/ˈɡrɒv.əl/us/ˈɡrɑː.vəl/-ll- or US usually -l-grovel verb [ I ] (TRY TO PLEASE)
to behave with too much respect towards someone to show that you are very eager to please them:
He sent a grovelling note of apology.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Praising insincerely or too eagerly
- arse-licker
- bow and scrape idiom
- brown-nose
- crawler
- creep
- fawn
- flatter
- flattery
- flattery will get you nowhere idiom
- glad-handing
- idealize
- ingratiate
- left-handed compliment
- massage sb's ego idiom
- obsequious
- play up to sb
- schmooze
- servile
- slobber
- unctuous
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grovel verb [ I ] (MOVE)
to move close to or on the ground:
I was grovelling under the sofa, trying to find my contact lens.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Moving on your hands and legs or on your stomach
- clamber
- claw
- claw your way (somewhere) idiom
- crawl
- four
- on all fours idiom
- pull
- scramble
- slither
- wriggle