kowtow
The word “kowtow” has 2 syllables: kow-tow
It's pronounced as /ˈkaʊˌtaʊ/
What is synonym and antonym for kowtow?
In the thesaurus, “kowtow” has 34 synonyms and 10 antonyms.
Here are synonyms and antonyms for kowtow along with examples of usage in sentences.
Synonyms for kowtow
- abase
- adulate
- apple-polish
- blandish
- bootlick
- cajole
- coax
- court
- cower
- cringe
- curry favor
- debase
- defer
- demean
- drool
- endear
- fawn
- flatter
- fuss
- grovel
- gush
- idolize
- ingratiate
- kiss up to
- overpraise
- slaver
- slobber
- soft-soap
- submit
- toady
- truckle
- woo
- worship
- yield
Antonyms for kowtow
Meanings of kowtow
- noun
- The act of kowtowing.
- verb
- To grovel, act in a very submissive manner.
- To kneel and bow low enough to touch one’s forehead to the ground.
- To bow very deeply.
Example Sentences
- He refused to kowtow to unreasonable demands.
- Some people will kowtow to authority just to avoid conflict.
- She won’t kowtow to critics who don’t understand her vision.
- The manager expected the staff to kowtow, but they stood their ground.
- You don’t have to kowtow to be respected, confidence speaks louder.
On this page you'll find 44 synonyms, antonyms, or another words to kowtow, such as: abase, adulate, apple-polish, blandish, bootlick, brave, cajole.
Make sure to choose synonyms and antonyms that are appropriate for the context of the sentence.
Related Words
obeisance
- abidance
- acquiescence
- adoration
- agreeability
- allegiance
- amenability
- beck
- bending of the knee
- bob
- bow
- capitulation
- compliance
- conformity
- curtsy
- deference
- deification
- docility
- dop
- dutifulness
- fealty
- genuflection
- glorification
- homage
- honor
- humility
- kowtow
- loyalty
- meekness
- modesty
- nod
- obedience
- obsequiousness
- praise
- respect
- reverence
- salaam
- salute
- servility
- slavishness
- submission
- submissiveness
- subordinateness
- subordination
- subservience
- subserviency
- surrender
- teachableness
- tractability
- tractableness
- trainability
- veneration
- worship
- yielding
quail
make much of
- accent
- accentuate
- acclaim
- admire
- adulate
- advertise
- advocate
- affirm
- aggrandize
- applaud
- apple-polish
- appreciate
- approve
- articulate
- assert
- baby
- bear down
- bear down on
- beg
- beg for mercy
- beseech
- blandish
- bless
- boost
- bootlick
- bow and scrape
- bow down
- brag about
- brown-nose
- build up
- butter up
- cajole
- caress
- cater to
- celebrate
- charge
- charm
- cheer
- cite
- clap
- commemorate
- commend
- compliment
- congratulate
- cosset
- cotton
- court
- cower
- crawl
- creep
- cringe
- crouch
- cry up
- dignify
- distinguish
- dote on
- dramatize
- dwell on
- eat crow
- eat dirt
- eat humble pie
- elevate
- emphasize
- endorse
- enlarge
- ennoble
- entertain
- enthuse
- enunciate
- eulogize
- exalt
- extol
- fall all over
- favor
- fawn
- fawn upon
- feast
- feature
- felicitate
- festival
- flatter
- focus
- fondle
- foreground
- give a boost to
- give a bouquet
- give bouquet
- give thanks
- glorify
- gush
- hail
- hand it to
- hats off to
- headline
- hear it for
- highlight
- hit
- hold reception for
- holiday
- honor
- humble oneself
- humor
- hymn
- identify
- illuminate
- implore
- impress
- indicate
- ingratiate oneself with
- insist on
- italicize
- kneel
- kowtow
- kudize
- labor the point
- laud
- lick chops
- limelight
- lionize
- magnify
- maintain
- make a point
- make clear
- make emphatic
- make over
- make up to
- mark
- mollycoddle
- nurse
- overplay
- pamper
- panegyrize
- pat on the back
- pay homage
- pay respects
- pay tribute
- pay tribute to
- pet
- pinpoint
- play up
- play up to
- please
- plug
- point out
- point up
- praise
- press
- proclaim
- promote
- pronounce
- prostrate
- publicize
- puff
- puff up
- punctuate
- push
- put accent on
- rave
- rave over
- recommend
- reiterate
- repeat
- resound
- revere
- reverence
- rhapsodize
- rhapsody
- roll out the red carpet
- roose
- root
- rub in
- salute
- sanction
- satisfy
- sing praises of
- sing the praises
- slobber over
- smile on
- snivel
- soft-soap
- soothe
- speak highly of
- spoil
- spotlight
- stoop
- stress
- stroke
- suck up to
- take off hat to
- toast
- tout
- trade last
- treat
- truckle
- underline
- underscore
- want
- weight
- wheedle
- wine and dine
- wish joy to
- worship
kiss up to
- abase
- adulate
- apple-polish
- back-scratch
- blandish
- bootlick
- brown-nose
- cajole
- coax
- court
- cower
- cringe
- curry favor
- dance attendance on
- debase
- defer
- demean
- drool
- endear
- fall all over
- fawn
- fawn over
- flatter
- fuss
- grovel
- gush
- idolize
- ingratiate
- kowtow
- overpraise
- pay court to
- slaver
- slobber
- soft-soap
- submit
- suck up to
- sweet-talk
- toady
- toady to
- truckle
- win over
- woo
- worship
- yield
say uncle
- abide
- accede
- accept
- accommodate
- accord
- acknowledge
- acquiesce
- adapt
- adjust
- admit
- adopt
- agree
- allow
- appease
- approve
- assent
- avow
- award
- be merciful
- be submissive
- bend
- bless
- blink
- bow
- bow to
- break
- brown-nose
- buckle
- budge
- bury the hatchet
- buy
- capitulate
- cave
- cave in
- cede
- come across
- come around
- comply
- concede
- concur
- confess
- conform
- consent
- cool it
- court
- cower
- cringe
- cry uncle
- cut a deal
- defer
- die away
- ditto
- drop
- ease
- ease off
- ease up on
- eat crow
- ebb
- embrace
- espouse
- fall
- fawn
- fess up
- flatter
- fold
- forbear
- genuflect
- give away
- give five
- give ground
- give in
- give out
- give quarter
- give some slack
- give the nod
- give up
- give way
- go along
- go along with
- go easy on
- go with the flow
- grant
- grin and bear it
- hand over
- have mercy
- have pity
- humor
- indulge
- jibe
- kneel
- knuckle
- knuckle under
- kowtow
- lay back
- lay down arms
- let
- let go
- let it happen
- let on
- lie down and roll over
- lighten up
- make a deal
- mellow out
- melt
- moderate
- obey
- okay
- own
- own up
- pander
- pass
- pass on
- permit
- play ball
- play ball with
- prostrate
- put up with
- quit
- recognize
- reconcile
- relax
- relent
- relinquish
- resign oneself
- roll over
- roll over and play dead
- sanction
- say yes
- set
- shake on
- show mercy
- sign off on
- slacken
- slow
- soften
- stoop
- submit
- subscribe
- subside
- succumb
- surrender
- throw in the sponge
- throw in the towel
- toe the line
- toe the mark
- tolerate
- truckle
- waive
- wane
- weaken
- withstand
- yes
- yes one
- yield