groveled
Crawled in submission
Groveled is the past tense of grovel, meaning to lie flat on the ground or crawl in a position of submission or humility.
More commonly, it describes degrading oneself to gain favor or forgiveness: He groveled before his boss for another chance.
The word carries contempt for such behavior—groveling suggests excessive, undignified pleading.
Asked with great urgency
- pleadedAsked with urgency
- imploredBegged earnestly
- beseechedAsked with desperate urgency
- supplicatedBegged humbly for something
entreated · petitioned · appealed · kowtowed · submitted · yielded · capitulated · deferred
Flattered servilely
- flatteredPleased by compliments
- toadiedFlattered in servile way
- bootlickedObsequiously curried favor
- brownnosedFlattered for personal gain
ingratiated · apple-polished · sucked up · pandered · simpered · cajoled · wheedled · curried favor
Moved on hands and knees
- creptMoved slowly, furtively
- prostratedLying flat in defeat
- kneltWent to ground respectfully
- bowedCurved or bent over
cowered · crouched · stooped · bent · lowered · scraped · slithered · writhed
Reduced in worth
- degradedReduced in rank or quality
- shamedMade to feel disgrace
- humiliatedMade to feel worthless
- mortifiedIntensely embarrassed
demeaned · lowered · dishonored · disgraced · embarrassed · belittled · diminished · abased
begged
Asked with great urgency
supplicated · entreated · petitioned · appealed · kowtowed · submitted · yielded · capitulated · deferred · acquiesced
fawned
Flattered servilely
- flatteredPleased by compliments
- toadiedFlattered in servile way
- bootlickedObsequiously curried favor
brownnosed · ingratiated · apple-polished · sucked up · pandered · simpered · cajoled · wheedled · curried favor · cringed
crawled
Moved on hands and knees
- creptMoved slowly, furtively
- prostratedLying flat in defeat
- kneltWent to ground respectfully
bowed · cowered · crouched · stooped · bent · lowered · scraped · slithered · writhed · sprawled
debased
Reduced in worth
- degradedReduced in rank or quality
- shamedMade to feel disgrace
- humiliatedMade to feel worthless
mortified · demeaned · lowered · dishonored · disgraced · embarrassed · belittled · diminished · abased · cheapened
- fawnedkowtowed, toadied, flattered, curried favor, bootlicked
- surrenderedsurrendered, capitulated, yielded, conceded, submitted
groveledstood tall
Maintained dignity or resolve
rose up · stood one's ground · towered · reared up · strutted
groveleddominated
Controlled or overpowered
lorded over · commanded · asserted oneself · dictated · condescended
groveledfought back
Defended oneself actively
resisted · defied · stood one's ground · rebelled · pushed back
grovel, groveling, grovelling, grovels, grovelled, groveler, groveller, grovelers, grovellers