adulation
/,ædju'leiʃn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- Servile flattery; exaggerated and hypocritical praise: Adulation refers to excessive admiration or praise that is not sincere, often given in a way that is overly fawning or subservient.
Usage
- Adulation is typically used to describe praise that is extreme, insincere, and given to gain favor or advantage.
- It often carries a negative connotation, suggesting the praise is unwarranted or that the person giving it is being obsequious.
- It is commonly used in contexts discussing fame, politics, or power, where people might seek favor through flattery.
Examples
- Noun:
- The celebrity grew tired of the constant adulation from the press and fans.
- He received adulation from his subordinates, but he knew it was motivated by fear rather than genuine respect.
- The dictator demanded adulation from the state-controlled media.
Advanced Usage
- "To be the object of adulation": to be the person who receives excessive, often insincere, praise.
- After winning the championship, the young athlete became the object of national adulation.
- "A culture of adulation": an environment where excessive, uncritical praise is the norm.
- The leader's inner circle fostered a culture of adulation, where any criticism was forbidden.
Variants and Related Words
- Adulate (verb): To praise (someone) excessively or obsequiously.
- The crowd seemed to adulate the speaker, hanging on his every word.
- Adulatory (adjective): Expressing excessive praise or admiration.
- The biography was criticized for its adulatory tone, lacking any critical analysis.
Synonyms
- Flattery: Excessive and insincere praise, especially given to further one's own interests.
- Fawning: Displaying exaggerated flattery or affection; obsequious.
- Sycophancy: Obsequious behavior aimed at gaining advantage from someone powerful.
Antonyms
- Criticism: The expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes.
- Disparagement: The act of speaking about someone or something in a way that shows strong disapproval or lack of respect.
- Condemnation: The expression of very strong disapproval; censure.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "Lavish adulation upon": To give someone an excessive amount of praise.
- The courtiers lavished adulation upon the new king.
- "Blind adulation": Unquestioning and uncritical admiration.
- The politician was wary of blind adulation, knowing it could lead to poor decisions.
Noun
- servile flattery; exaggerated and hypocritical praise