as in to fuss
to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior
you can try kowtowing to the boss, but he'll see right through you
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kowtow
Meanwhile, other sources have pointed to the belief that Johnson’s background in progressive organizing repels him from anything that looks like kowtowing.
—
Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2025
Under that system, countries acknowledged the cultural and political superiority of China and expressed deference to Chinese authority—including literally kowtowing before the Chinese emperor in order to trade with China.
—Elizabeth Economy, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2017
This includes his daughter, Tal, who has a hard time dealing with her father’s refusal to kowtow to politicians.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2025
Amazon, and all of its attendant properties, is owned by Jeff Bezos, who has proven in recent months to have no issue kowtowing to authoritarians for the sake of his bottom line.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kowtow
Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2025
Under that system, countries acknowledged the cultural and political superiority of China and expressed deference to Chinese authority—including literally kowtowing before the Chinese emperor in order to trade with China.
—Elizabeth Economy, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2017
This includes his daughter, Tal, who has a hard time dealing with her father’s refusal to kowtow to politicians.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2025
Amazon, and all of its attendant properties, is owned by Jeff Bezos, who has proven in recent months to have no issue kowtowing to authoritarians for the sake of his bottom line.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kowtow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kowtow
Verb
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Really good, and if you’re not fussed about mod cons or hybrid tech, one can be sat on your driveway for just £18,850 ($24,388).—
Matthew MacConnell,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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Even so, the film’s Very Online fandom didn’t seem fussed.—
Louis Staples,
Rolling Stone,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Hamlet’s toadying friends, the hangers-on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, are Izzard’s own talking hands, popping up to face her like a pair of Muppets.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2024
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This is the aspect of his production that made his reputation but is sometimes denigrated as superficial and toadying.—
Sebastian Smee,
Washington Post,
20 Nov. 2023
Verb
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There’s a reason scouts once drooled over Williams’ potential.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2025
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Symptoms from scorpion stings — such as burning at the sting site, drooling.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Unless Trump’s art of the deal is all about truckling to Putin.—
Maureen Dowd,
The Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2025
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Garbarino enjoyed his time with the Southern river rats and mountain folk, and their refusal to truckle to authority delights him to this day.—
David Samuels,
Town & Country,
18 Oct. 2013
Verb
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By Hannah Jackson Within a relatively generous two week window, Frank submitted a round of sketches to kick off another seamless (sorry) remote design process.—
Fawnia Soo Hoo,
Vogue,
27 Mar. 2025
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In the Senate, there were seven testimonies submitted favoring SB 399, including a letter from NextEra Energy Transmission MidAtlantic in support of is project to build the MidAtlantic Resiliency Link transmission line.—
Noël Fletcher,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Since then, the internet has fawned over the burgeoning model and singer, who performs under the name LoveLeo.—
Adam England,
People.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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Amused when flexing her power, she is fawned over by her crew, who pamper her like a queen.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kowtow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kowtow. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
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