BharatNotes Obsequious
adjectiveUsage in a UPSC answer
A robust democracy demands a permanent civil service that tenders frank, evidence-based advice to its political masters, not an obsequious bureaucracy that merely echoes the preferences of whoever holds power.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
obsequiously (adv.), obsequiousness (n.), obsequy (n.), obsequies (n. pl.)
Root
Latin ob- = toward + sequi = to follow; obsequium = compliance; obsequiosus = compliant
Etymology
From Latin obsequiosus, from obsequium "compliance," from obsequi "to comply, follow," from ob- "toward" + sequi "to follow." Entered Middle English (c. 1447) originally meaning "dutiful, attentive," later acquiring its negative sense of servility.
Memory Hook
Root link: 'ob- + sequi' = "to follow after" — an obsequious courtier follows his master everywhere, bowing and scraping. Think "OBEY + SEQUENCE": one who obediently follows every command in sequence.
How This Word Works in UPSC Writing
Excessively eager to please or obey, to the point of servility. In GS4 it names a real hazard of hierarchical administration: an obsequious subordinate tells a superior what they want to hear, which corrupts the information on which decisions rest. That is why speaking uncomfortable truth upward is treated as an ethical duty rather than a matter of temperament.
Don’t Confuse It With
Obsequious is servile and excessively compliant. Deferential shows appropriate respect for position or expertise. Sycophantic flatters for advantage. Loyal supports genuinely, which is compatible with disagreement and is the quality obsequiousness counterfeits.
Hindi Meaning
चापलूस (chāplūs) or दासतुल्य.
Common Questions
- What does obsequious mean?
- Excessively eager to please or obey, to the point of servility.
- Why is obsequiousness a problem in administration?
- Because a subordinate who tells superiors only what they want to hear corrupts the information on which decisions are based.
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