fawning
/'fɔ:niɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Excessively flattering or subservient: Describes behavior that shows exaggerated praise, attention, or obedience, often to gain favor or approval from someone perceived as powerful or important. It implies a lack of sincerity and self-respect.
Examples of Usage
- Adjective:
- The manager was tired of the fawning compliments from employees seeking promotions.
- Her fawning admiration for the celebrity was embarrassing to watch.
- He rejected the fawning attention of the lobbyists.
Advanced Usage
- "Fawning sycophancy": An intensified phrase describing extreme, servile flattery.
- The court was filled with fawning sycophancy, each noble trying to outdo the other in praise for the king.
- Used to describe a manner or tone, not just actions.
- She wrote a fawning letter of recommendation, exaggerating every minor achievement.
Variants and Related Words
- Fawn (verb): To act in a servilely flattering or subservient manner.
- He would fawn over his boss in hopes of special treatment.
- Fawner (noun): A person who fawns.
- The leader was surrounded by fawners who never told him the truth.
Synonyms
- Obsequious: Excessively obedient or attentive.
- Servile: Having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others.
- Sycophantic: Behaving or done in an obsequious way to gain advantage.
- Toadying: Acting in an obsequious way (informal).
Antonyms
- Assertive: Having or showing a confident and forceful personality.
- Independent: Free from outside control; not influenced by others.
- Forthright: Direct and outspoken.
Related Phrases
- Fawning over someone: To give excessive flattery or attention to someone.
- The fans were fawning over the movie star, asking for autographs and photos.
- Fawning behavior: A general term for acts of excessive flattery.
- His fawning behavior in the meeting made his colleagues uncomfortable.
Adjective
- attempting to win favor by flattery
- attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery