Defenition of the word kowtow

• Defenition of the word kowtow

  • An act of respect common in Imperial China which consists of kneeling down and bowing so low as to touch the head to the ground.
  • To kneel and bow so low as to touch one’s forehead to the ground in expression of respect, worship, or submission.
  • To act in a very submissive manner.
  • court favor by cringing or flattering
  • a former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission
  • bow in a servile manner
  • try to gain favor by cringing or flattering; "He is always kowtowing to his boss"
  • bend the knees and bow in a servile manner
  • try to gain favor by cringing or flattering

Synonyms for the word kowtow

• • be conventional
  • be traditional
  • bootlick
  • do the accepted thing
  • fawn
  • genuflect
  • kotow
  • obey the rules
  • play the game
  • scrape
  • suck up
  • toady
  • truckle

Similar words in the kowtow

• • kowtow
  • kowtowed
  • kowtowing
  • kowtows

Hyponyms for the word kowtow

• • court favor
  • court favour
  • curry favor
  • curry favour

Hypernyms for the word kowtow

• • blandish
  • bow
  • bowing
  • flatter
  • obeisance

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