as in homage
a show of respect or acknowledgement of the authority or importance of another
They made obeisance before the king and queen. She earned herself some political enemies when she failed to make the proper obeisance to those in power.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obeisance
After a decade of seemingly supine obeisance, there is no obvious reason why the military leadership would suddenly rouse itself to oppose Xi.
—
Jonathan A. Czin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2025
Visitors who fail to perform the requisite display of obeisance have faced consequences, as in the Feb. 28 blowup with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
—Massimo Calabresi, Time, 24 July 2025
But Zuckerberg isn’t the only one paying abject obeisance to the president.
—Max Taves, Mercury News, 11 July 2025
In the first case, Obama was accused of showing obeisance to a foreign ruler and Islam.
—Brendan Cole
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for obeisance
Jonathan A. Czin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2025
Visitors who fail to perform the requisite display of obeisance have faced consequences, as in the Feb. 28 blowup with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
—Massimo Calabresi, Time, 24 July 2025
But Zuckerberg isn’t the only one paying abject obeisance to the president.
—Max Taves, Mercury News, 11 July 2025
In the first case, Obama was accused of showing obeisance to a foreign ruler and Islam.
—Brendan Cole
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for obeisance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obeisance
Noun
-
Next stop will be Paris in June, with an homage to Laporte.—
Jennifer Weil,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The spa Many Roman baths were found in this area of France, and the hotel pays homage with its own, contemporary underground baths complex, inclusive of a caldarium, tepidarium and frigidarium.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His natural leadership has earned him the deep respect of his peers, who elected him Senior Class President for the current school year.—
Darla Rivera,
Oklahoman,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Norwegians’ respect for their royal family has been dented by new details about Epstein’s friendship with Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who is married to the heir to the throne, Prince Haakon.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
These ventures can be heroic, as when Tommie Smith and John Carlos valiantly raised their fists as a Black Power salute in Mexico City in 1968.—
Steve Buckley,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Charlie Puth performs during the Grammy Awards salute to the Beach Boys, on April 9, 2023, on the CBS Television Network.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
According to the news release, there is a design gradient on the livery that’s a repeat of a Cadillac chevron, giving a nod to General Motors’ co-ownership and Cadillac’s symbol.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The Gone Girl actor ditched his signature scruff and dark hair in favor of forehead-skimming golden-blonde highlights that covered the top of his head and contrasted the darker brown undercut—a clear nod to Damon’s character Will Hunting.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Ugg Women's Mini Bailey Bow II Boot There’s a sweet surprise on the back of this Ugg Mini Boot—a satin bow that adds a playful element to one of Ugg’s core styles.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Motifs inspired by seasonal lingerie—lace, bows, hearts, lips, and all—make your feelings for the holiday, and your possible intentions for the evening, just clear enough.—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Cave of Munits is an easy place to reconnect with your childlike wonder, but please explore with respect and reverence for the place.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Two librarians speak of their time at the 135th Street Library in Harlem, with an inspiring reverence for the space and their position within it.—
Jourdain Searles,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But for Coles, his indoctrination to law enforcement has been a different level of submissiveness.—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
2 Dec. 2025
-
In Killers of the Flower Moon, his Ernest Burkhart starts off as a mopey, weak-minded World War One veteran, eager to do anything for his godfather uncle (Robert De Niro), but there’s still a certain likability to his dim-bulb submissiveness.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obeisance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obeisance. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
