ass-kissing
Shameless brown-nosing behavior
Ass-kissing is excessive flattery or obsequious behavior aimed at gaining favor, typically from someone in authority: His promotion had more to do with ass-kissing than talent.
The term is vulgar but widely used.
An ass-kisser is someone who habitually engages in such behavior.
Also spelled asskissing or ass kissing.
Obsequious flattery for favor
- sycophantServile praise-giver
- bootlickerServile flatterer of superiors
- promotionRank increase or publicity
- bossWorkplace superior
corporate · ladder-climbing · office · politics · management · supervisor · career · advancement
Excessive insincere praise
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- obsequiousServilely attentive to superiors
- complimentsExpressions of admiration
- insincereFeigning belief or feeling
manipulation · charm · praise · adulation · groveling · people-pleasing · approval-seeking · pandering
Paid legislative influencer
- donorOne who contributes freely
- influencePower to affect others
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
endorsement · corruption · backroom · dealmaking · constituent · campaign · fundraising · access
brown-nosing
Obsequious flattery for favor
- sycophantServile praise-giver
- bootlickerServile flatterer of superiors
- promotionRank increase or publicity
boss · corporate · ladder-climbing · office · politics · management · supervisor · career · advancement · subordinate
flattery
Excessive insincere praise
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- obsequiousServilely attentive to superiors
- complimentsExpressions of admiration
insincere · manipulation · charm · praise · adulation · groveling · people-pleasing · approval-seeking · pandering · smarmy
lobbyist
Paid legislative influencer
- donorOne who contributes freely
- influencePower to affect others
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
cronyism · endorsement · corruption · backroom · dealmaking · constituent · campaign · fundraising · access · power-broker
- office politicsoffice politics, backstabbing, power plays, favoritism, nepotism
- schmoozingschmooze, schmoozing, hobnobbing, glad-handing, mingling
ass-kissingdefiance
Open resistance to authority
insubordination · rebellion · talking back · standing up to · dissent
ass-kissingcandor
Unguarded truthfulness
straight talk · brutal honesty · telling it like it is · authenticity · earnestness
ass-kissingself-respect
Valuing one's own worth
dignity · independence · backbone · integrity · pride