kowtowed
Bent in submission
Kowtowed is the past tense of kowtow, meaning to show excessive deference or submission.
The word comes from a Chinese ceremonial bow involving kneeling and touching the forehead to the ground.
Modern usage is almost always figurative and disparaging: He kowtowed to his boss's every demand.
To kowtow suggests surrendering dignity for approval or favor.
Lying fully extended
- grovelHumble oneself servilely
- obeisanceGesture of reverence
- bowRespectful forward inclination
- genuflectBend knee reverently
kneel · fawn · cringe · cower · capitulate · surrender · yield · acquiesce
Regard with honor
- reverenceProfound admiring respect
- venerationProfound admiring respect
- homageExpression of deep respect
- tributeOffering of respect
esteem · honor · admiration · obsequiousness · servility · subservience · sycophancy · flattery
Satisfy to restore calm
- capitulateYield under pressure
- concedeAdmit something reluctantly
- caveUnderground hollow in rock
- yieldProduce or relinquish
accommodate · placate · mollify · compromise · conciliate · pander · submit · relent
prostrate
Lying fully extended
genuflect · kneel · fawn · cringe · cower · capitulate · surrender · yield · acquiesce · comply
respect
Regard with honor
- reverenceProfound admiring respect
- venerationProfound admiring respect
- homageExpression of deep respect
tribute · esteem · honor · admiration · obsequiousness · servility · subservience · sycophancy · flattery · ingratiation
appease
Satisfy to restore calm
- capitulateYield under pressure
- concedeAdmit something reluctantly
- caveUnderground hollow in rock
yield · accommodate · placate · mollify · compromise · conciliate · pander · submit · relent · buckle
ceremony
Formal event marking occasions
etiquette · formality · court · imperial · emperor · dynastic · Confucian · mandarin · audience · petition
- fawnedgroveled, toadied, flattered, curried favor, bootlicked
- grovelingfawned, prostrated, bootlicked, toadied, brownnosed
- surrenderedsurrendered, capitulated, yielded, conceded, submitted
kowtoweddefied
Openly resisted authority
rebelled · resisted · stood up to · challenged · disobeyed
kowtoweddisrespected
Treated with contempt
insulted · snubbed · dishonored · slighted · ignored