adulators
Sycophants and toadies
Adulators are people who shower someone with excessive praise or flattery.
The word carries a negative connotation—adulators don't simply admire, they fawn obsequiously, often for personal gain or out of sycophancy: The dictator surrounded himself with adulators who never challenged his decisions.
The singular is adulator; the verb is adulate.
Those offering insincere praise
- sycophantsServile self-seeking flatterers
- toadiesServile flatterers seeking favor
- bootlickersServile seekers of favor
- brownnosersThose who fawn servilely
yes-men · lackeys · flunkies · grovelers · fawners · apple-polishers · hangers-on · minions
Excessive insincere flattery
- grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another
- kowtowingSubmissive display of respect
- bootlickingServile flattery for advantage
- toadyingObsequious behavior seeking favor
flattery · sycophancy · obsequiousness · servility · subservience · ingratiation · blandishment · smarm
Enthusiastic public approval
- flatteryExcessive insincere praise
- complimentsExpressions of admiration
- laudationFormal expression of praise
- extolmentAct of praising highly
glorification · exaltation · hero-worship · veneration · idolization · homage · tribute · plaudits
flatterers
Those offering insincere praise
- sycophantsServile self-seeking flatterers
- toadiesServile flatterers seeking favor
- bootlickersServile seekers of favor
brownnosers · yes-men · lackeys · flunkies · grovelers · fawners · apple-polishers · hangers-on · minions · courtiers
fawning
Excessive insincere flattery
- grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another
- kowtowingSubmissive display of respect
- bootlickingServile flattery for advantage
toadying · flattery · sycophancy · obsequiousness · servility · subservience · ingratiation · blandishment · smarm · unctuousness
acclaim
Enthusiastic public approval
- flatteryExcessive insincere praise
- complimentsExpressions of admiration
- laudationFormal expression of praise
extolment · glorification · exaltation · hero-worship · veneration · idolization · homage · tribute · plaudits · accolades
adulatorscritics
Those who evaluate work
detractors · disparagers · censurers · denouncers · vilifiers
adulatorstruth-tellers
Those who state facts
realists · skeptics · devil's advocates · straight shooters · straight-shooters