trying too hard to please somebody, especially somebody who is important synonym servile谄媚的;巴结奉迎的 an obsequious manner 谄媚的态度 The waiters came hurrying forward with obsequious smiles on their faces. 侍者们带着谄媚的微笑急匆匆地走过来。 The service in the restaurant was attentive without being obsequious. 这家餐馆的服务周到而不谄媚。
Word Originlate 15th cent. (not originally in a negative sense): from Latin obsequiosus, from obsequium ‘compliance’, from obsequi ‘follow, comply with’.