What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
grovelling
Example
He was grovelling at her feet, begging for her forgiveness. [grovelling: verb]
Example
The employee's grovelling attitude towards his boss was getting on everyone's nerves. [grovelling: adjective]
obsequious
Example
The waiter was being obsequious towards the wealthy customer, hoping for a big tip. [obsequious: adjective]
Example
She found his obsequious behavior towards his boss to be insincere and annoying. [obsequious: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Obsequious is a more commonly used word than grovelling in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between grovelling and obsequious?
Both grovelling and obsequious are more formal words that are not commonly used in everyday speech. However, obsequious is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
