fawning
adjective
fawn·ing ˈfȯ-niŋ 
ˈfä-
: seeking or used to seek approval or favor by means of flattery
… they are excellent emblems of fawning yet fickle fandom …
Thomas Boswell
Thomas BoswellHe's sitting in a shaded pavillion, surrounded by a dozen fawning politicians … Barbara Crossette
Barbara CrossetteI was astonished that Frost could've read the poem as anything but an act of fawning servility. Tobias Wolff
Tobias Wolff fawningly adverb
Not since the glory days of the glossy movie fan mags have stars been viewed so uncritically, so fawningly. Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert 
Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
fawning 1 of 3
adjective
as in obsequious
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- obsequious
- servile
- kowtowing
- slavish
- subservient
- subordinate
- obeisant
- docile
- obedient
- acquiescent
- dutiful
- submissive
- amiable
- obliging
- biddable
- compliant
- amenable
- tractable
- conformable
- agreeable
- yielding
- surrendering
- duteous
- decorous
- restrained
- placable
- law-abiding
- mannerly
- constrained
- repressed
- orderly
- inhibited
- disciplined
- soft
- meek
- tame
- mild
- gentle
- curbed
- controllable
- tractable
- manageable
- teachable
- trainable
- governable
- handleable
- disciplinable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- peevish
- mutinous
- obstinate
- wild
- dogged
- unyielding
- mulish
- obdurate
- stubborn
- insurgent
- uncontrollable
- headstrong
- hardheaded
- defiant
- pigheaded
- perverse
- resistant
- unmanageable
- bad
- mischievous
- errant
- naughty
- insolent
- impudent
- disrespectful
- undisciplined
- disorderly
- balky
- rude
- self-willed
- defiant
- recalcitrant
- dissident
- impolite
- wayward
- refractory
- wilful
- willful
- nonconformist
- insubordinate
- unruly
- contrary
- obstreperous
- rebellious
- contumacious
- disobedient
- ill-bred
- misbehaving
- restive
- intractable
- untoward
- ill-mannered
- noncompliant
- rebel
- balky
- ungovernable
- unamenable
- froward
- incompliant
fawning
2 of 3noun
as in sycophancy
Synonyms & Similar Words
- sycophancy
- adoration
- toadying
- worship
- idolatry
- praise
- ingratiation
- compliments
- caresses
- cajolery
- congratulations
- greetings
- respects
- regards
- acclaim
- felicitations
- smarm
- applause
- flattery
- adulation
- blandishments
- endearments
- cajolement
- butter
- commendation
- sweet talk
- overpraise
- soft soap
- allurements
- blarney
- taffy
- incense
- flannel
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disparagement
- belittlement
- detraction
- depreciation
- bad-mouthing
- put-down
fawning
3 of 3verb
as in toadying
to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior a student who could not wait to fawn over the new teacher Synonyms & Similar Words
- toadying
- fussing
- drooling
- bootlicking
- kowtowing
- truckling
- courting
- slobbering
- gushing
- slavering
- currying favor
- submitting
- ingratiating
- wooing
- deferring
- endearing
- adulating
- apple-polishing
- cringing
- groveling
- flattering
- coaxing
- cajoling
- idolizing
- worshipping
- kissing up to
- cowering
- grovelling
- overpraising
- sucking (up)
- demeaning
- worshiping
- debasing
- blandishing
- yielding
- abasing
- soft-soaping
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disdaining
- despising
- scorning
- jeering
- scoffing
- gibing
- defying
- challenging
- jibing
- braving