When the weather turned cold, the tears that he shed would become frozen like veins; the blood on his forehead from kowtowing would also freeze and would not drip.
Source: wiktionary
Kowtow
/ˈkaʊˌtaʊ/
Synonyms for "kowtow" (118 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (24)
Strong matches (35)
Noun(6 words)
Related words (59)
homageinclinationkneelkneel tokneelingknuckle tolick the dustlickspittlemake a legmake a reverencemake obeisancemaking a legnodobeisanceobsequiousnesspander topay court toplay up topresenting armsprostration
Show 19 more words
reverencesalaamsalutationsalutescrapeservilityshine up toslaversquatstanding at attentionstoopsubmissionsubmissivenesssuck up tosupinationtoadeattoadytruckletruckle to
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: genuflect, abases, acquiesce, apple-polish, bend.
- Sentence evidence is available for kowtow, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "kowtow".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "kowtow"
Keep "kowtow" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "kowtow" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "kowtow", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "kowtow" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
13 entriesMore specific
10 entriesacquiescencecompliancefull kowtowgenuflectiongrovelingpanderingpartial kowtowpolitical capitulationprostrationservile posture
Collocations
7 entriesceremonial kowtowcultural kowtowgroveling kowtowhabitual kowtowpolitical kowtowpublic kowtowritual kowtow
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
4 total sentences available.
I suppose you're going to be nice to Odie and kowtow to Jon and lick the mailman's boots! I don't like you already.
Source: wiktionary
The letter to Razin contained another thought that preoccupied Stalin in the first months after the war: the need to avoid “kowtowing to the West,” including showing “unwarranted respect” for the “military authorities of Germany.”
Source: wiktionary
Three elders dressed in their long silk ceremonial gowns perform the kowtow before the altar in their clan ancestral hall.
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "kowtow"?
Closest matches include genuflect, abases, acquiesce, apple-polish, bend.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "kowtow"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.