grovellers
Those who crawl
Grovellers are people who grovel—who prostrate themselves or behave obsequiously toward someone more powerful.
The word carries contempt for those who demean themselves seeking favor: The king surrounded himself with grovellers and yes-men.
Also spelled grovelers.
Excessive insincere praise
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- bootlickingServile flattery for advantage
- obsequiousServilely attentive to superiors
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
kowtowing · brownnosing · yes-man · lickspittle · apple-polishing · ingratiating · adulation · servile
State of being lowered
- self-abasementDeliberately diminishing oneself
- degradationDecline in condition
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
- shamePainful awareness of failure
meekness · servility · humbleness · self-effacement · contrition · penitence · submissiveness · prostration
Urgent heartfelt request
- beggingEarnest desperate requesting
- imploringUrgently requesting with emotion
- beseechingUrgently pleading for something
- supplicationHumble plea for help
entreaty · despair · helplessness · plight · dire · crisis · frantic · stricken
Crafty and calculating
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- insincerityLack of genuine feeling
ulterior · opportunism · self-serving · strategic · disingenuous · duplicity · pretense · feigned
flattery
Excessive insincere praise
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- bootlickingServile flattery for advantage
- obsequiousServilely attentive to superiors
toady · kowtowing · brownnosing · yes-man · lickspittle · apple-polishing · ingratiating · adulation · servile · subservient
abasement
State of being lowered
- self-abasementDeliberately diminishing oneself
- degradationDecline in condition
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
shame · meekness · servility · humbleness · self-effacement · contrition · penitence · submissiveness · prostration · debasement
pleading
Urgent heartfelt request
- beggingEarnest desperate requesting
- imploringUrgently requesting with emotion
- beseechingUrgently pleading for something
supplication · entreaty · despair · helplessness · plight · dire · crisis · frantic · stricken · penniless
scheming
Crafty and calculating
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
insincerity · ulterior · opportunism · self-serving · strategic · disingenuous · duplicity · pretense · feigned · performative
grovellersdefiers
Those who oppose
rebels · resisters · challengers · dissidents · insubordinates
grovellersmasters
Those with dominion
rulers · dominators · overlords · commanders · tyrants