Definition

1. Verb:
   • To praise or admire someone excessively and insincerely, typically to gain favor or advantage. It implies a level of flattery that is servile and fawning.

Usage and Examples

• Verb:
  • The crowd seemed to adulate the celebrity, cheering every word he said.
  • Some leaders are surrounded by aides who adulate them, never offering honest criticism.
  • She refused to adulate the powerful director, preferring to give her professional opinion directly.

Advanced Usage

• The act of adulation often involves exaggerated praise that is not based on genuine merit. It is commonly observed in political, corporate, or celebrity contexts where there is a significant power imbalance.
  • In authoritarian regimes, the state media is often used to adulate the ruler.
• The noun form is adulation, which refers to the excessive admiration itself.
  • He was uncomfortable with the public's adulation.

Variants and Related Words

• Adulation (n): Excessive admiration or praise.
  • The actor received widespread adulation for his performance.
• Adulator (n): A person who adulates; a flatterer.
  • The king was misled by his adulators.

Synonyms

• Flatter: To praise complimentarily, especially to please.
• Fawn: To flatter or show affection in a servile way.
• Toady: To behave obsequiously to someone important.

Antonyms

• Criticize: To indicate the faults of someone or something.
• Insult: To speak to or treat with disrespect.
• Denounce: To publicly declare to be wrong or evil.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• While there is no common idiom using the exact word "adulate," the concept is central to phrases like:
  • To butter someone up: To flatter someone, especially to gain a favor.

    • He's just buttering up the boss to get that promotion.
  • To lay it on thick: To exaggerate one's praise or flattery.

    • The introduction laid the praise on a bit too thick.

Verb

1. flatter in an obsequious manner