OpenSynonym

lackey

/ˈlæki/

NOUN

1. A personal servant or attendant

A servant, traditionally a liveried male attendant, employed to perform personal or household duties for someone of higher social standing.

1.1. Household or personal servant

A person employed to attend to the needs of an employer or household, often performing subordinate domestic duties.

Synonyms

Examples

  • The aristocrat summoned his lackey to bring his coat.
  • The wealthy household employed several lackeys to attend to its guests.

Related Words

1.2. Subordinate assistant or errand runner

A person who performs menial tasks, runs errands, or carries out routine duties for someone in a superior position.

Synonyms

Examples

  • The executive treated his lackey as someone who existed only to run errands.
  • He sent his lackey to collect the documents from the office.

Related Words

NOUN

2. An excessively obedient or submissive follower

A person who unquestioningly obeys, supports, or serves someone more powerful, often out of excessive loyalty, self-interest, or a desire for approval.

2.1. Servile follower or subordinate

Someone who behaves submissively toward a powerful person and carries out their wishes without asserting independence.

Synonyms

  • minion
  • flunky
  • underling
  • henchman
  • stooge
  • myrmidon
  • hireling

Antonyms

Examples

  • The dictator surrounded himself with obedient lackeys who never questioned his decisions.
  • The corrupt businessman relied on his lackeys to carry out questionable orders.

Related Words

  • subordinate
  • follower
  • retainer
  • apparatchik
  • subservience

2.2. Sycophantic or flattering follower

A person who excessively flatters or agrees with someone influential in order to gain favor, status, or personal advantage.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • The politician dismissed his critics as a group of lackeys eager to please their leader.
  • Nobody trusted the manager's lackey, who agreed with every opinion he expressed.

Related Words

VERB

3. To serve or attend submissively

To act as a servant or subordinate to someone, especially in an excessively obedient or servile manner.

3.1. Serving someone obsequiously

Attending to or serving a person in an excessively submissive way, often showing undue deference.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • The courtier would lackey the powerful noble to secure his favor.
  • He was unwilling to lackey anyone, regardless of their position.

Related Words

3.2. Behaving as a fawning follower

Acting like a submissive follower by flattering, obeying, or seeking approval from someone influential.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • He refused to lackey the director merely to advance his career.
  • The ambitious courtier continued to lackey the ruler in hopes of receiving a promotion.

Related Words