apple-polisher
Fawning favor-seeker
An apple-polisher is someone who curries favor through flattery or excessive attentiveness to authority figures.
The term evokes the image of a student bringing a shiny apple to the teacher: The other kids called him an apple-polisher for always volunteering to help.
The word carries connotations of insincerity and self-interest.
Servile flatterer seeking favor
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
- suck-upOne who flatters superiors
- yes-manUncritical agreeable subordinate
- fawnerOne who flatters servilely
groveler · lickspittle · flunky · adulator · hanger-on · flatterer · lackey · minion
One who cultivates contacts
- politickerOne who campaigns strategically
- opportunistOne exploiting circumstances
- careeristAdvancement-obsessed professional
- striverOne who works diligently
self-promoter · ingratiating · calculating · scheming · conniving · self-serving · ambitious · advancement
Expression of approval
- complimentWords expressing approval
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- sweet-talkFlatter to persuade
- smooth-talkPersuade through flattery
blandishment · cajolery · soft-soap · gushing · overpraise · insincerity · schmoozing · adulation
brownnoser
Servile flatterer seeking favor
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
- suck-upOne who flatters superiors
- yes-manUncritical agreeable subordinate
fawner · groveler · lickspittle · flunky · adulator · hanger-on · flatterer · lackey · minion · ass-kisser
networker
One who cultivates contacts
- politickerOne who campaigns strategically
- opportunistOne exploiting circumstances
- careeristAdvancement-obsessed professional
striver · self-promoter · ingratiating · calculating · scheming · conniving · self-serving · ambitious · advancement
praise
Expression of approval
- complimentWords expressing approval
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- sweet-talkFlatter to persuade
smooth-talk · blandishment · cajolery · soft-soap · gushing · overpraise · insincerity · schmoozing · adulation · unctuousness
- flatteryflatter, praise, flattery, compliment, compliments
- sycophantssycophant, sycophants, toady, toadies, bootlickers
apple-polisherrebel
Authority defier
troublemaker · nonconformist · rabble-rouser · maverick · dissenter
apple, polished, polishing, unpolished, apple-polishing, polisher, polishes, bootlicker, brown-noser