brownnoser
Apple-polishing toady
A brownnoser is someone who flatters or fawns over authority figures to gain favor—a sycophant or toady.
The term is mildly vulgar, evoking the image of having one's nose up someone's rear end: The other employees resented the brownnoser who always agreed with the boss.
The verb is brownnose; the practice is brownnosing.
Obsequious flatterer seeking favor
- bootlickerServile flatterer of superiors
- yes-manUncritical agreeable subordinate
- fawnerOne who flatters servilely
- grovelerOne who abases themselves
flunkey · lickspittle · apple-polisher · flatterer · lackey · minion · doormat · stooge
Fraudulent person or thing
- fakeNot the real thing
- two-facedInsincere and deceptive
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
- hypocriticalFeigning beliefs one lacks
affected · artificial · pretentious · feigned · sham · superficial · unctuous · oleaginous
Crafty, deceitful planner
- conniverOne who schemes secretly
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- craftyCleverly deceptive
shrewd · sly · wily · underhanded · sneaky · opportunist · self-serving · ingratiating
toady
Obsequious flatterer seeking favor
- bootlickerServile flatterer of superiors
- yes-manUncritical agreeable subordinate
- fawnerOne who flatters servilely
groveler · flunkey · lickspittle · apple-polisher · flatterer · lackey · minion · doormat · stooge · teacher's pet
phony
Fraudulent person or thing
- fakeNot the real thing
- two-facedInsincere and deceptive
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
hypocritical · affected · artificial · pretentious · feigned · sham · superficial · unctuous · oleaginous · smarmy
schemer
Crafty, deceitful planner
- conniverOne who schemes secretly
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
crafty · shrewd · sly · wily · underhanded · sneaky · opportunist · self-serving · ingratiating · covert
- compound slangairhead, birdbrain, blockhead, bonehead, dimwit
- sycophancyfawning, toadying, groveling, kowtowing, flattering
- sycophantssycophant, sycophants, toady, toadies, bootlicker
- fakesfake, fakes, counterfeit, counterfeits, imitation
- people typesfriend, stranger, neighbor, enemy, buddy
- snobssnob, elitist, snoot, prig, highbrow
brownnoserrebel
Authority defier
dissident · troublemaker · rabble-rouser · iconoclast · maverick
brownnoserstraight shooter
Forthright, blunt person
truth-teller · independent thinker · free spirit · true believer · lone wolf
brownnoserwhistleblower
Insider who reports misconduct
truth-teller · straight talker · crusader · muckraker · reformer