Kowtow to means to show excessive respect or obedience to someone. Synonyms for kowtow to include grovel, stoop, submit, cower, crawl, defer, bow, yield, and give in. These words imply a sense of submissiveness and acquiescence to someone else's will or authority. They may be used to describe behavior towards a boss, authority figure, or higher-up in a hierarchal setting. While it may be important to show respect and comply with certain rules or expectations in certain situations, demonstrating excessive subservience can be detrimental to personal growth and standing up for oneself. It's important to strike a balance between respect and self-respect in all social interactions.