Slavish

Slavish describes a person or action characterized by excessive dependence, imitation, or subservience. It implies a lack of originality, independent thought, and a willingness to blindly follow or obey, often to an extreme degree. It can refer to a Slavish adherence to rules, a Slavish imitation of another's style, or Slavish devotion to a person or cause. This quality suggests a loss of personal agency and critical thinking, leading to uninspired actions and limited personal growth.

Slavish meaning with examples

• The artist was accused of Slavish imitation, copying the master's brushstrokes without injecting any of his own creativity. His work lacked originality and failed to impress critics, highlighting the danger of simply replicating instead of innovating. This resulted in him missing out on showcasing his true potential.
• The employee's Slavish adherence to the company's rigid protocols stifled innovation and problem-solving. Though initially praised for his loyalty, it later hindered the team's ability to adapt to changing market trends and customer needs, resulting in them falling behind competitors.
• Her Slavish devotion to the cult leader led her to sacrifice her personal relationships and financial stability. This demonstrated the dangerous consequences of blindly following charismatic figures without questioning their motives or actions, eventually making her isolate from the group.
• The translation was criticized for its Slavish rendering of the original text, failing to capture the nuances of the language. Instead of adapting to the target audience, the translation's stiffness resulted in a loss of cultural understanding and reader engagement, making the work harder to appreciate.
• After the celebrity posted on social media, their fans started displaying a Slavish devotion to wearing their style, but later questioned their reasons for not making their own choices. The trend demonstrated the powerful influence of social media on conformity, resulting in a lack of self-expression within the group.