Lackey

A lackey is a person who is servile or obsequiously attentive to someone else, often a wealthy or powerful individual, and typically performs menial tasks or acts as a subordinate. The term carries a pejorative connotation, implying that the individual lacks independence and self-respect, often going out of their way to please their employer or master. This word is frequently associated with servitude or sycophantry.

Lackey meaning with examples

• In the grand halls of the mansion, the lackey scurried about, ensuring everything was in place for the evening's gala. His eagerness to please the wealthy hosts was evident as he polished the silverware and arranged the seating, yearning for a sliver of their attention in return for his diligent service, embodying the very essence of subservience.
• The ambitious young politician saw himself as a power player, but in reality, he was merely a lackey for the more seasoned leaders of his party, executing their orders without question. Despite his dreams of independence, he often found himself trapped in a web of obligation, burdened by the expectations of those who wielded true influence over him.
• As the CEO entered the boardroom, her lackey followed closely behind, carrying a stack of reports and ensuring that every detail was attended to. To outsiders, he seemed confident in his role, but internally he grappled with his identity, feeling little more than a shadow of the powerful figure he served, forever confined beneath her towering presence.
• In the realms of politics, many people become lackeys, sacrificing their own beliefs and values to align themselves with those in power. The once idealistic activist morphed into a lackey as he tailored his rhetoric to fit the agenda of the influential donors, gradually losing the passion that initially drove him to fight for change.