What does obsequious mean?
Word: Obsequious
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Obsequious means too eager to please or obey someone, in a way that seems false.
Synonyms: fawning
How do you spell obsequious?
Syllables: ob - se - qui - ous
Tricky part: The i after the qu is the letter that goes missing. Spoken fast, the ending runs together, so pupils write ous straight after the u, or swap the i for an e.
Watch out for: obsequous, obsequeous
Memory tip: Listen for the beat qui inside the word and keep it whole: it is the same qui that opens quick and quiet.
Obsequious in a sentence
Example 1: The obsequious shop assistant kept bowing and praising every dress the customer tried on.
Example 2: Rehan's obsequious compliments fooled nobody, since everyone knew he wanted a bigger role in the play.
Example 3: The film's obsequious butler agrees with everything his rich employer says.
Fun Fact
This word was not always a criticism. In older English it simply meant dutiful and ready to obey, and it comes from a Latin verb meaning to comply. The sense of false, oily politeness grew up later.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Fill in the blanks with the correct letters:
o_s_quious
a) b, i
b) p, i
c) b, e
d) p, e
Show answer
c) b, e. The word opens with ob, not op, and the vowel after the s is a plain e.
Mingle-Mangle
Unscramble the jumbled word in the sentence and choose it:
The uussqobeio clerk laughed at all of the manager's jokes and agreed with each of his plans.
a) obsequious
b) oblivious
c) obnoxious
d) officious
Show answer
a) obsequious. The letters hold a q, which none of the other three adjectives has.
Spell-o-Spell
Find the correctly spelt word in the list and choose its meaning.
1. dilligent 2. obsequious 3. consciencious 4. tenacius
a) working hard and with steady care
b) refusing to give up easily
c) taking great care to do things properly
d) praising and obeying others to gain favour
Show answer
d) praising and obeying others to gain favour. Tenacious ends in cious, diligent keeps a single l, and conscientious takes a t where this list has a c.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word obsequious as used in the sentence:
The hotel guide's obsequious smile vanished as soon as the visitors had left.
a) cheerful
b) sincere
c) weary
d) servile
Show answer
d) servile. Someone servile is too ready to bow to others, and that smile was put on for the visitors.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which remark sounds obsequious?
a) I think we could finish this by Friday.
b) Could you check this page for me, please?
c) Madam, every word you say is pure wisdom.
d) I am not sure that plan will work.
Show answer
c) Madam, every word you say is pure wisdom.
2. People often distrust an obsequious person because ____
a) the clothes look out of place at work
b) the praise seems to hide a selfish aim
c) the voice is too loud to bear indoors
d) the jokes are too hard to understand
Show answer
b) the praise seems to hide a selfish aim
