flunkey

Obsequious hired attendant

A flunkey is a servant, especially one in livery who performs minor duties.

The word extends to anyone who does someone else's bidding in a servile way: The CEO surrounded himself with flunkeys who never challenged his decisions.

The spelling flunky is equally common.

The tone is always dismissive—flunkeys lack independence or dignity.

servant

valet

Personal servant or parker

butlerChief domestic servant
footmanUniformed domestic male attendant
manservantMale domestic employee

retainer · housekeeper · chambermaid · housemaid · page · steward · scullion · handmaid · domestic · houseboy

sycophant

toady

Obsequious flatterer seeking favor

yes-manUncritical agreeable subordinate
bootlickerServile flatterer of superiors
minionServile subordinate

hanger-on · stooge · lapdog · doormat · brown-noser · apple-polisher · crawler · fawner · follower · underling

obsequious

fawning

Excessive insincere flattery

sycophanticServilely flattering
servileExcessively submissive, lacking independence
grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another

bootlicking · unctuous · ingratiating · slavish · toadying · cringing · submissive · deferential · kowtowing · sniveling

menial

drudge

One doing hard, dull labor

underlingPerson of lower rank
peonIndentured low-status worker
dogsbodyLowly general assistant

skivvy · hireling · grunt · factotum · scullery · charwoman · cleaner · sweeper · porter · custodian

flunkey

valet

toady

fawning

drudge

flunkey

Opposites

Categories

Family