slavish

slavish Definition

slav·ish (slā′vis̸h)

adjective

of or characteristic of a slave or slaves; specif.,
1. hopelessly submissive; servile
2. Now Rare involving drudgery; laborious
blindly dependent or imitative slavish adherence to a model

slavish Related Forms

slav′·ishly adverb slav′·ish·ness noun

slavish Synonyms

modif.

Having the qualities of a slave
servile, cringing, fawning; see docile, obsequious.
Lacking originality
uninspired, faithful, imitative; see dull 4.

slavish Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

adherence: Only the most perverse of people could have stayed with it through all its slavish adherence to Moscow.
devotion: Even the worst king could, in these ways, evoke a slavish devotion in his subjects.
imitation: He said: " We know how to maneuver, we do not want slavish imitation.
dependence: Our own lack of imagination and those who enforce our slavish dependence upon non-renewable energy sources combine to blind us from seeing these opportunities.
following: Ours is not a slavish following, however - we consider it essential to treat each program or project on its merits.
worship: She paints a frightening picture of democratic deficit, control freakery and slavish leader worship.

Modifying Another Word

not: It's not slavish devotion to free market economics to point that out.
almost: The almost slavish adherence to the idea that presentation is paramount is like applying gloss paint to rotten woodwork.
too: And do not become too slavish to the rules of composition.

Used with adjective complement

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