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truckle

verb
truck·​le | \ ˈtrÉ™-kÉ™l How to pronounce truckle (audio) \
truckled; truckling\ ˈtrÉ™-​k(É™-​)liÅ‹ How to pronounce truckling (audio) \

Definition of truckle

intransitive verb

: to act in a subservient manner : submit
Other Words from truckle Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about truckle

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Other Words from truckle

truckler \ ˈtrÉ™-​k(É™-​)lÉ™r How to pronounce truckler (audio) \ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for truckle

fawn, toady, truckle, cringe, cower mean to behave abjectly before a superior. fawn implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention. waiters fawning over a celebrity toady suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude. toadying to his boss truckle implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior. truckling to a powerful lobbyist cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility. a cringing sycophant cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people. cowering before a bully

Did You Know?

When truckle was first used in English in the 15th century, it meant "small wheel" or "pulley." Such small wheels were often attached to the underside of low beds, to allow them to be easily moved under high beds for storage. These beds came to be known as truckle beds (or trundle beds), and a verb truckle - meaning "to sleep in a truckle bed" - came into being. By the 17th century, the fact that truckle beds were pushed under larger standard beds had inspired a figurative sense of truckle: "to yield to the wishes of another" or "to bend obsequiously." The initial verb meaning became obsolete; the newer sense is fairly rare but is still in use.

Examples of truckle in a Sentence

the kind of guy who truckles to anyone who has even a suspicion of money

Recent Examples on the Web

 Garbarino enjoyed his time with the Southern river rats and mountain folk, and their refusal to truckle to authority delights him to this day. — David Samuels, Town & Country, "One Bad Egg," 18 Oct. 2013 During the campaign, most of Trump’s fallen rivals blasted him in exceptional terms—before truckling to support him against Hillary Clinton. — James Fallows, The Atlantic, "It’s What Bob Corker Does Next That Counts," 8 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'truckle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of truckle

1647, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for truckle

from the lower position of the truckle bed

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More from Merriam-Webster on truckle

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with truckle

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for truckle

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