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groveling

grov·el
G g

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [gruhv-uh l, grov-]
    • /ˈgrʌv əl, ˈgrɒv-/
    • /ˈɡrɒv.əl/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [gruhv-uh l, grov-]
    • /ˈgrʌv əl, ˈgrɒv-/

Definitions of groveling word

  • verb without object groveling to humble oneself or act in an abject manner, as in great fear or utter servility. 1
  • verb without object groveling to lie or crawl with the face downward and the body prostrate, especially in abject humility, fear, etc. 1
  • verb without object groveling to take pleasure in mean or base things. 1
  • noun groveling (US) present participle of grovel. 1
  • noun groveling The act of one who grovels. 0

Information block about the term

Origin of groveling

First appearance:

before 1585
One of the 35% oldest English words
1585-95; back formation from obsolete groveling (adv.), equivalent to obsolete grufe face down (< Old Norse ā grūfu face down) + -ling2, taken to be present participle

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Groveling

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

groveling popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 70% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

groveling usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for groveling

adj groveling

  • fawning — a young deer, especially an unweaned one.
  • cringing — servile; obsequious
  • humble — not proud or arrogant; modest: to be humble although successful.
  • docile — easily managed or handled; tractable: a docile horse.
  • submissive — inclined or ready to submit or yield to the authority of another; unresistingly or humbly obedient: submissive servants.

noun groveling

  • toadying — an obsequious flatterer; sycophant.
  • meanness — the state or quality of being mean.

adjective groveling

  • servile — slavishly submissive or obsequious; fawning: servile flatterers.

Antonyms for groveling

adj groveling

  • proud — feeling pleasure or satisfaction over something regarded as highly honorable or creditable to oneself (often followed by of, an infinitive, or a clause).

Top questions with groveling

  • what is groveling?

See also

Matching words

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