1. a person who crawls on the ground or acts in an obsequious, servile manner to gain favor or avoid punishment
Usage: often used disapprovingly; can refer literally to someone crawling or figuratively to someone behaving submissively

Examples

• He refused to be a groveler and stood up for his principles.
• The groveler apologized repeatedly, hoping to escape punishment.
• She despised the grovelers who constantly flattered the boss.
• Rather than become a groveler, he chose to resign with dignity.
• The politician was surrounded by grovelers seeking favors.
• No amount of groveling would change his mind; he was not a groveler by nature.