Definitions
- Describing a person who is excessively obedient or submissive to authority figures. - Referring to someone who is willing to do anything to please others, even if it means sacrificing their own needs or beliefs. - Talking about a situation where one person or group is completely under the control or domination of another.
- Describing a person or animal that is easily trained or taught. - Referring to someone who is calm and obedient, without being excessively submissive. - Talking about a situation where there is little resistance or opposition.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe a person's behavior or attitude towards authority.
- 2Both words suggest a lack of resistance or opposition.
- 3Both words can be used to describe animals as well as people.
What is the difference?
- 1Connotation: Subservient has a negative connotation, suggesting excessive obedience or submission, while docile has a neutral or positive connotation, suggesting calmness and ease of handling.
- 2Extent: Subservient implies a more extreme level of obedience or submission than docile.
- 3Purpose: Subservient often implies a willingness to sacrifice one's own needs or beliefs to please others or gain favor, while docile does not necessarily imply this.
- 4Authority: Subservient is often used in the context of authority figures, while docile can be used in a wider range of contexts.
- 5Usage: Subservient is less commonly used than docile in everyday language.
Remember this!
Subservient and docile are both words that describe a lack of resistance or opposition. However, subservient suggests excessive obedience or submission, often to authority figures, while docile suggests calmness and ease of handling without implying excessive submission. Additionally, subservient has a negative connotation, while docile has a neutral or positive connotation.
