Kowtows are a type of gesture or behavior that shows extreme subservience or obedience. There are several synonyms for kowtow that convey similar meanings. These include bow, prostrate, grovel, genuflect, defer, submit, yield, and give in. Each of these words conveys the idea of one person or group being in a position of lower status or power and showing respect or deference to another person or group in a position of higher status or power. The word kowtow is particularly associated with Chinese culture and history, where it was a formal gesture of respect or submission to the emperor or other rulers.