as in to fuss
to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior
you can try kowtowing to the boss, but he'll see right through you
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Recent Examples of kowtow
After all, the series largely avoids other topical issues of modern campus life, from freedom of speech restrictions to administrators kowtowing to autocracies.
—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
5 Mar. 2026
The public demand was made based on a social media post from right-wing journalist Laura Loomer, who pointed to a video in which Rice vowed to hold companies accountable for kowtowing to Trump if Democrats regain power in the federal government.
—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Feb. 2026
The bigger question is whether Ratner’s proximity to power will compel an industry already willing to kowtow to the president to officially welcome Ratner back.
—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
But Thibodeau was never interested in being Tony La Russa and kowtowing to Reinsdorf or the management team of Gar Forman and John Paxson.
—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kowtow
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
5 Mar. 2026
The public demand was made based on a social media post from right-wing journalist Laura Loomer, who pointed to a video in which Rice vowed to hold companies accountable for kowtowing to Trump if Democrats regain power in the federal government.
—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Feb. 2026
The bigger question is whether Ratner’s proximity to power will compel an industry already willing to kowtow to the president to officially welcome Ratner back.
—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
But Thibodeau was never interested in being Tony La Russa and kowtowing to Reinsdorf or the management team of Gar Forman and John Paxson.
—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kowtow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kowtow
Verb
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Yes, teaching by example is often a better way of handling a challenge than fussing about it.
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No need to fuss-up something that's just as delicious prepared simply.
Verb
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The only other psychological need that rivals his thirst for toadying is the pursuit of .
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Hamlet’s toadying friends, the hangers-on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, are Izzard’s own talking hands, popping up to face her like a pair of Muppets.
Verb
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Isaacs said the symptoms of heat stress or heat stroke include excessive panting, drooling, vomiting, seizures or collapse.
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This golden lasagna is the perfect way to offer a vegetarian option that meat-eaters will be drooling over.
Verb
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Garbarino enjoyed his time with the Southern river rats and mountain folk, and their refusal to truckle to authority delights him to this day.
Verb
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Its mission was to upset hierarchies, not reinforce them, and few things were more offensive to comedians than bootlicking.
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Call it the bootlicking trickle-down-effect.
Verb
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The case will be submitted to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office for review.
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Should the Council decline, if Unite NY then submits at least another 15,000 signatures, the matter will go to the ballot.
Verb
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But the food justified every rave review, hour-long wait for a table, and fawning Instagram image.
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There were no megastars to fawn over.
Cite this Entry
“Kowtow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kowtow. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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