Slavish

/ˈsleɪvɪʃ/

Meaning & Definition

adjective

of or characteristic of a slave; completely subservient or submissive.

His slavish obedience to authority made it difficult for him to express his own opinions.

excessively imitative of another’s work, lacking originality.

The artist's slavish copying of the master’s style received criticism for its lack of creativity.

showing no individuality; utterly servile.

The slavish adherence to the company’s policies left no room for innovation or personal input.

Middle English, from Old French 'esclav', from Latin 'sclavus', meaning 'slave'.

slavish imitation

An exact or unoriginal copy of something; lacking creativity.

slavish follower

A person who blindly follows another without independent thought.

slave

A person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them.

servant

A person employed in the service of another.

servility

An excessive willingness to serve or please others.

To be overly compliant or submissive.

Stop being so slavish in your compliance with their demands!

Lacking individuality or creativity.

That design is so slavish, it looks just like everything else out there.