subserviency
Slavish yielding behavior
Subserviency is the state of being subservient—excessively willing to serve or submit to others.
The word carries overtones of degrading compliance rather than admirable helpfulness: His subserviency to the boss disgusted his coworkers.
The variant *subservience* is more common in contemporary usage.
Yielding to another's will
- acquiescenceUnresisting acceptance
- obedienceCompliance with authority
- docilityReadiness to submit
- yieldingBending under pressure
capitulation · conformity · deference · tractability · pliability · meekness · passivity · nonresistance
Obsequious behavior toward authority
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- obsequiousnessServile eagerness to please
- grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another
- toadyingObsequious behavior seeking favor
bootlicking · kowtowing · flattery · cringing · slavishness · abasement · self-abasement · ingratiation
Lower position in hierarchy
- inferiorityLower status or quality
- underlingPerson of lower rank
- menialLowly and unskilled
- vassalLand-holding sworn subordinate
subject · peon · minion · lackey · flunky · attendant · dependant · junior
Absence of vanity
- meeknessGentle, unassertive disposition
- self-effacementDownplaying one's importance
- humblenessState of being unpretentious
- lowlinessState of modest rank
unpretentiousness · demureness · diffidence · unassumingness · reserve · timidity · bashfulness · reticence
Regard with honor
- reverenceProfound admiring respect
- venerationProfound admiring respect
- homageExpression of deep respect
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
esteem · honor · dutifulness · respectfulness · politeness · civility · regard · consideration
submission
Yielding to another's will
- acquiescenceUnresisting acceptance
- obedienceCompliance with authority
- docilityReadiness to submit
yielding · capitulation · conformity · deference · tractability · pliability · meekness · passivity · nonresistance · submissiveness
sycophancy
Obsequious behavior toward authority
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- obsequiousnessServile eagerness to please
- grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another
toadying · bootlicking · kowtowing · flattery · cringing · slavishness · abasement · self-abasement · ingratiation · truckling
subordination
Lower position in hierarchy
- inferiorityLower status or quality
- underlingPerson of lower rank
- menialLowly and unskilled
vassal · subject · peon · minion · lackey · flunky · attendant · dependant · junior · subaltern
modesty
Absence of vanity
- meeknessGentle, unassertive disposition
- self-effacementDownplaying one's importance
- humblenessState of being unpretentious
lowliness · unpretentiousness · demureness · diffidence · unassumingness · reserve · timidity · bashfulness · reticence · mildness
respect
Regard with honor
- reverenceProfound admiring respect
- venerationProfound admiring respect
- homageExpression of deep respect
courtesy · esteem · honor · dutifulness · respectfulness · politeness · civility · regard · consideration · propriety
subserviencyindependence
Freedom from external control
autonomy · self-determination · self-reliance · freedom · self-sufficiency
subserviencyassertiveness
Confident self-expression quality
self-assertion · defiance · boldness · self-respect · pride