Quick answer
Obsequious means excessively eager to please in a servile or fawning way. It is usually pronounced , and today it is still readable to modern audiences, even if it sounds more deliberate than everyday speech.
Word page
Obsequious
Obsequious means excessively eager to please in a servile or fawning way. It belongs to pompous and grandiloquent words and works best in formal mockery, pompous speeches, and sentences that want impressive weight. It still feels usable today, especially when you want a word with more character than the plainest alternative.
At a glance
pompousformalgrandiloquent
How to say it
Meaning in plain English
In plain English, obsequious refers to excessively eager to please in a servile or fawning way. It is most useful when a plain label would tell the truth but miss the tone, flavor, or comic edge.
Why this word feels absurd
Obsequious feels absurd because the shape of it looks and sounds a little awkward in exactly the right way, which helps it stick in the ear.
Origin and history
Obsequious is generally traced to origin uncertain. In modern use, the history matters less than the strong tone the word still carries.
Is this word still used today?
Obsequious is still used today, though it often turns up in more formal, literary, or analytical writing than in casual conversation.
Example sentences
- The column dismissed the whole rumor as obsequious.
- In the novel, one obsequious is enough to derail the dinner party.
- She used obsequious in the essay because the plain modern word felt too bland.
- The teacher paused to explain obsequious before asking the class to use it in context.
- They kept repeating obsequious because the sound of it was almost as memorable as the meaning.
When should you use this word?
Use obsequious when you want a more vivid, characterful choice than the plain everyday alternative. It works especially well in formal mockery, pompous speeches, and sentences that want impressive weight.
Similar words
bloviation, bombast, calcified, contumelious, coruscating
Opposite or contrasting words
plain speech, brevity, simplicity
Common questions
- What does obsequious mean? excessively eager to please in a servile or fawning way.
- How do you pronounce obsequious? It is commonly pronounced .
- Is obsequious still used today? Obsequious is still used today, though it often turns up in more formal, literary, or analytical writing than in casual conversation.
- When should you use obsequious? Use obsequious when you want a more vivid, characterful choice than the plain everyday alternative. It works especially well in formal mockery, pompous speeches, and sentences that want impressive weight.
- What words are similar to obsequious? Similar words include bloviation, bombast, calcified, and contumelious.
Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 9, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.