Flunkeyish

/ˈflʌŋkiɪʃ/ adjective

Definition

Resembling, characteristic of, or behaving like a flunkey; overly obedient or servile.

Etymology

Combines 'flunkey' with the -ish suffix (from Old English, meaning having qualities of or resembling), which turns nouns into adjectives describing similarity or quality.

Kelly Says

The -ish suffix is incredibly productive in English—we can add it to nearly any word to mean 'somewhat like' or 'resembling,' which is why you can create words like 'flunkeyish' even if they're rarely used.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

This adjectival form of 'flunkey' carries forward the masculine gendering of servile behavior established in servant hierarchies.

Inclusive Usage

Use 'servile,' 'obsequious,' 'sycophantic,' or 'subordinate' to describe the behavior without gendered overtones.

Inclusive Alternatives

["servile","obsequious","sycophantic","subordinate","deferential"]

Related Words

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