slavish
/'sleiviʃ/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Abjectly submissive; characteristic of a slave or servant: Showing a complete lack of independence or originality, behaving in a way that is excessively obedient and eager to please, often to a degrading extent.
- Blindly imitative: Copying something exactly without any thought, creativity, or adaptation.
Usage
- The adjective "slavish" is used to describe behavior, attitudes, or actions that show excessive, often demeaning, obedience or a complete lack of originality.
- It is typically used in a negative or critical sense to highlight undesirable subservience or unthinking imitation.
- Common collocations include: , , , .
Examples
- Describing submissive behavior:
- He was a slavish yes-man, always agreeing with the boss no matter what.
- Her slavish devotion to her job ruled her life and left no time for her family.
- Describing unoriginal copying:
- The design was a slavish copy of the original, with no innovation of its own.
- We need creative thinking, not slavish imitation of outdated models.
Advanced Usage
- "Slavish adherence to": Following rules, traditions, or instructions in an excessively rigid and unthinking manner.
- The project failed due to a slavish adherence to a flawed initial plan.
- "Slavish attention to detail": Can be used in a slightly more positive, though still extreme, sense to describe meticulousness that borders on the obsessive.
- The restoration was completed with slavish attention to historical detail.
Variants and Related Words
- Slavishly (adverb): In a slavish manner.
- He followed the instructions slavishly, without questioning their logic.
- Slavishness (noun, less common): The quality of being slavish.
Synonyms
- Servile: Willing to serve others obediently, often in a way that seems excessive or demeaning.
- Subservient: Prepared to obey others unquestioningly.
- Imitative: Copying or following a model or example, often without originality.
- Obsequious: Obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree.
Antonyms
- Independent: Free from outside control; not depending on another's authority.
- Original: Created directly and personally by a particular artist; not a copy.
- Assertive: Having or showing a confident and forceful personality.
Idioms and Phrases
- A slavish follower: Someone who follows another person or a set of ideas with unquestioning obedience and lack of independent thought.
- He was not a leader but merely a slavish follower of the prevailing ideology.
Adjective
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abjectly submissive; characteristic of a slave or servant
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slavish devotion to her job ruled her life
-
a slavish yes-man to the party bosses- S.H.Adams
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she has become submissive and subservient
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blindly imitative
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a slavish copy of the original
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