Synonym Chooser

How is the word truckle distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of truckle are cower, cringe, fawn, and toady. While all these words mean "to behave abjectly before a superior," truckle implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior.

truckling to a powerful lobbyist

When would cower be a good substitute for truckle?

While in some cases nearly identical to truckle, cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people.

cowering before a bully

When is cringe a more appropriate choice than truckle?

While the synonyms cringe and truckle are close in meaning, cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility.

a cringing sycophant

When is it sensible to use fawn instead of truckle?

The words fawn and truckle can be used in similar contexts, but fawn implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention.

waiters fawning over a celebrity

When might toady be a better fit than truckle?

The words toady and truckle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, toady suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude.

toadying to his boss

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 truckle Unless Trump’s art of the deal is all about truckling to Putin. Maureen Dowd, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025 Garbarino enjoyed his time with the Southern river rats and mountain folk, and their refusal to truckle to authority delights him to this day. David Samuels, Town & Country, 18 Oct. 2013 During the campaign, most of Trump’s fallen rivals blasted him in exceptional terms—before truckling to support him against Hillary Clinton. James Fallows, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for truckle
Verb
  • On top of this, her mother and sister are fussing about her future relationship status, which leads to them plotting some dates for her.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The world saw this five-man group as an ideal of friendship, a community working and living together, fussing and fighting but making rough beauty out of it.
    Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • This includes his daughter, Tal, who has a hard time dealing with her father’s refusal to kowtow to politicians.
    Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Amazon, and all of its attendant properties, is owned by Jeff Bezos, who has proven in recent months to have no issue kowtowing to authoritarians for the sake of his bottom line.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 20 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • In short clips that have reached upward of four million views and 600,000 likes on TikTok, users are fawning over the rising star’s good looks and passionate on-court personality.
    Brendan Le, People.com, 8 Mar. 2025
  • As per usual, the NFL player was in the comment section fawning over the singer and tempting her with a good time.
    Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • 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.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2024
  • This is the aspect of his production that made his reputation but is sometimes denigrated as superficial and toadying.
    Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023
Verb
  • And more than 130 people said their therapist fell asleep during therapy — sometimes going so far as to start drooling or snoring.
    Christina Caron, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Art Deco is enticing in art and in theaters, not so much in a home with drooling pets and messy toddlers.
    Amanda Lauren, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Truckle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/truckle. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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