servile
SER-vyle
/ˈsɜːrvaɪl/
Having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others; characteristic of a slave.
Implies a loss of personal dignity, acting like a servant or slave out of fear, habit, or low self-esteem.
The story behind the word. From Latin servilis (of a slave), from servus (slave).
Word relationships
- subservient: Subservient is being prepared to obey, while servile emphasizes a degrading, slave-like attitude.
- imperious: Imperious means arrogant and domineering, while servile means groveling and submissive.
Commonly confused with
- helpful: Helpful is positive assistance, while servile is degrading self-abasement.
Word family
- servility (noun): The state of being servile.
- servilely (adverb): In a servile manner.
Collocations
- servile attitude
- servile flattery
- servile obedience
Example sentences
- "He despised the servile flattery of his ambitious assistants." Describing a degrading political environment.
Memory hook
Servile looks and sounds like servant or slave—acting completely subservient. Servile = Slave-like submission.
When not to use
Do not use for professional, high-quality customer service unless it crosses into degrading groveling.
Fun facts
- Servile is directly related to serve, servant, and servitude, all stemming from the Latin word for slave.
Related words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.