How to Use obsequious in a Sentence

obsequious

adjective
Definition of obsequiousnext
Synonyms for obsequiousnext
  • The obsequious villagers touched their caps but sneered behind her back.
    — "George Sand", 1980
  • She's constantly followed by obsequious assistants who will do anything she tells them to.
  • Those are the obsequious words the puppeteer has been waiting to hear.
    — Perri Klass, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 May 2022
  • At the opening, politicians lined up to flatter the company in the most obsequious terms.
    — Sarah Leonard, The New Republic, 2 Apr. 2021
  • In the face of mass disrespect, such obsequious pandering goes a long way.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 20 Dec. 2021
  • The crews also catch the obsequious obsequies of comrades in the street, filmed in every corner of the evil empire.
    — Kyle Smith, National Review, 9 May 2021
  • Moon is no stranger to lavishing Trump with obsequious praise.
    — Adam K. Raymond, Daily Intelligencer, 10 Jan. 2018
  • The Indianan is the master of the obsequious tribute that Trump loves.
    — Stephen Collinson, CNN, 2 Oct. 2019
  • Then, of course, there were the obsequious lawyers and bankers who helped guard fortunes and reputations.
    — Simon Usborne, Town & Country, 15 June 2022
  • Nash's other hand flashed forward a lighter with the obsequious speed of a motor salesman.
    — Ian Fleming, From Russia, With Love, 1957
  • Also notable is the service, which is warm and discreet rather than obsequious.
    — Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2022
  • Being obsequious is a means to his own end: finding his mother and avenging his father.
    — Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2023
  • In their wildest dreams, Big Oil could not have imagined a more obsequious servant.
    — Mark Warren, Esquire, 17 June 2010
  • They must be poised and respectful without coming off as obsequious suck-ups.
    — Mark Joseph Stern, Slate Magazine, 18 Apr. 2017
  • There are no hushed voices, white tablecloths or obsequious waiters.
    — Isabelle Kliger, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2023
  • He could wear an oxford shirt and necktie and speak the local language, in every sense, and never act obsequious or look as though he felt out of place.
    — Tracy Kidder, New England Monthly, April 1990
  • The majority of the comments were flattering to Bosworth, even obsequious.
    — Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2021
  • Dour versus obsequious The half-hour call started with pleasantries but quickly took a sharp detour.
    — Nancy Benac, The Denver Post, 30 Nov. 2019
  • Brooks is Joel Cairo, the obsequious little fellow who follows in the wake of the wealthy Caspar Gutman.
    — Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, 13 Apr. 2012
  • Giuliani attempts to reassure the girl, who responds with obsequious flattery and flirtation.
    — Kyle Buchanan, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2020
  • Relationships tended to flow one way — with obsequious public displays by heads of state and government trying to get on Trump’s good side.
    — Zeke Miller, chicagotribune.com, 18 June 2021
  • The staff is exceptionally warm and friendly, attentive without being obsequious, thanks in part to a system whereby customers are rated on a scale of one to three.
    — Sadie Stein, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2016
  • This gambit was a trap, even if the obsequious TV guy didn’t intend it that way, and Connally easily slipped it.
    — Carl M. Cannon, Orange County Register, 28 May 2017
  • And would Pence, a man who had shown himself until this very day to be one of the most obsequious public officials in American history, have dared refuse?
    — Mark Danner, The New York Review of Books, 6 Jan. 2021
  • Smith’s tone was self-conscious and ingratiating—at times, obsequious.
    — Sam Adler-Bell, The New Republic, 7 Mar. 2022
  • Cavill is perhaps an odd choice to play the eccentric, occasionally even obsequious and hubristic Holmes.
    — Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 23 Sep. 2020
  • The job called for a door-to-door salesman’s approach, requiring the nerfoo to adopt patronizing or outright obsequious poses.
    — Jeremy Miller, Harper's Magazine, 26 Oct. 2021
  • This doesn't mean being obsequious, currying favor with the boss— just act nice and kind, treating everyone with dignity and respect.
    — Jack Kelly, Forbes, 14 May 2022
  • Billy was just an obsequious celebrity hanger-on and minor Today show host when The Trump Tape surfaced.
    — Jack Holmes, Esquire, 14 Oct. 2016
  • Public outrage has forced even usually obsequious TV news channels to question the government.
    — Sadanand Dhume, WSJ, 10 June 2021

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'obsequious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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