Obsequious means being overly eager to please someone, especially someone powerful or important, in a way that seems insincere or lacking in self-respect. When someone acts obsequious, they're fawning, flattering constantly, and agreeing with everything the other person says, even when they might privately disagree.

Imagine a student who laughs at every single joke the teacher makes (even the ones that aren't funny), volunteers to carry the teacher's books every day, and constantly says “You're so right, Mrs. Johnson!” about everything. That's obsequious behavior. It goes beyond ordinary politeness into something that feels fake and uncomfortable to watch.

The word has a negative connotation. An obsequious person might bow and scrape in front of the boss but act completely differently when the boss isn't around.

You might see this word in classic literature describing characters who flatter royalty or wealthy people to gain advantages. Charles Dickens created memorably obsequious characters like Uriah Heep, who constantly proclaimed himself “humble” while scheming and flattering his way into power.