Grovelling

Grovelling is a verb that describes the act of crawling on one's hands and knees, often as a means of showing humility, submission, or extreme eagerness to please. This behavior is typically characterized by excessive flattery or servility, usually in response to a perceived superior authority or when seeking forgiveness or favor. It suggests a loss of dignity and self-respect.

Grovelling meaning with examples

• After realizing his mistake at work, John found himself grovelling before his boss, apologizing profusely for the oversight that had cost the team valuable time and resources. He offered to work overtime to make up for it, hoping to regain trust and avoid reprimands, but felt embarrassed by how low he had to stoop to make amends.
• During the school debate competition, one student was overheard grovelling to the judges, showering them with compliments on their judging skills in hopes of swaying their opinions. While he believed he was being strategic, many in the audience found his behavior desperate and insincere, ultimately doubting the validity of his arguments.
• When Maria missed an important deadline, she resorted to grovelling to her professor in hopes of securing an extension. She pleaded with exaggerated humility and promised to improve her time management in the future. Her frantic attempts to win sympathy from her professor were almost painful to watch, as she clearly struggled to hold onto her pride.
• In a bid to repair their relationship, Kevin found himself grovelling to his girlfriend, taking responsibility for all their recent conflicts. He showered her with apologies and gifts, eager to impress her with his sincerity. This behavior, however, left him questioning whether his efforts would be enough to mend the hurt caused by his previous actions.