backslappers
Overly friendly types
Backslappers are people who display hearty, often excessive friendliness—the type who greet others with enthusiastic slaps on the back.
The term usually carries a note of skepticism, suggesting the warmth is performative or self-serving rather than genuine: The convention was full of backslappers working the room for contacts.
Inclined toward companionship
- affableWarm and approachable
- genialPleasantly warm-mannered
- jovialCheerful and friendly
- convivialSociable and cheerful
outgoing · extroverted · effusive · hail-fellow · gladhanding · warmhearted · approachable · companionable
Servile self-seeking flatterers
- flatterersThose offering insincere praise
- glad-handersInsincerely friendly people
- schmoozersThose who ingratiate socially
- fawnersServile praise-givers
toadies · yes-men · brown-nosers · bootlickers · panderers · obsequious · unctuous · glib
Genial, easygoing friendliness
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
- brotherhoodKinship among men
- comradeshipMutual loyalty among companions
- kinshipState of being related
solidarity · loyalty · bonding · rapport · teammates · locker-room · clubhouse · fraternity
Those who ingratiate socially
- minglersThose who socialize freely
- socialitesPeople famous for attending events
- connectorsDevices that join things
- networkersThose cultivating professional contacts
glad-handers · dealmakers · influencers · power-brokers · rainmakers · contacts · conferences · meetups
sociable
Inclined toward companionship
convivial · outgoing · extroverted · effusive · hail-fellow · gladhanding · warmhearted · approachable · companionable · chummy
sycophants
Servile self-seeking flatterers
- flatterersThose offering insincere praise
- glad-handersInsincerely friendly people
- schmoozersThose who ingratiate socially
fawners · toadies · yes-men · brown-nosers · bootlickers · panderers · obsequious · unctuous · glib · disingenuous
bonhomie
Genial, easygoing friendliness
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
- brotherhoodKinship among men
- comradeshipMutual loyalty among companions
kinship · solidarity · loyalty · bonding · rapport · teammates · locker-room · clubhouse · fraternity · insiders
schmoozers
Those who ingratiate socially
- minglersThose who socialize freely
- socialitesPeople famous for attending events
- connectorsDevices that join things
networkers · glad-handers · dealmakers · influencers · power-brokers · rainmakers · contacts · conferences · meetups · receptions
backslapperscritics
Those who evaluate work
detractors · honest brokers · truth-tellers · straight talkers · naysayers
backslappersintroverts
People preferring minimal socializing
wallflowers · loners · shrinking violets · recluses · misanthropes