kowtowing

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On Tuesday, Colbert claimed CBS management is kowtowing to Carr and showing a lack of corporate courage.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

Bennett argued presciently that by kowtowing to radicals, “a great university was brought low by the very forces which modern universities came into being to oppose: ignorance, irrationality and intimidation.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

Those early signs of kowtowing were bad indicators that the members of Youngstown State University’s faculty union just couldn’t get behind.

From Salon • Jun. 7, 2025

It will not want to be seen kowtowing to Washington.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2025

Other males and females exhibit their submission to the alpha male by bowing before him while making grunting sounds, not unlike human subjects kowtowing before a king.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari