brownnoses
Toadies to superiors
Brownnoses are people who curry favor through excessive flattery or obsequious behavior toward those in authority.
The image is of someone whose nose has turned brown from kissing ass.
The term is crude but not taboo: The brownnoses in the office always agree with whatever the boss says.
Seeking favor through flattery
- smarmyInsincerely ingratiating
- unctuousExcessively and insincerely earnest
- oilyCovered in grease
- obsequiousServilely attentive to superiors
servile · deferential · submissive · compliant · fawning · groveling · sycophantic · toadying
Servile praise-giver
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
- bootlickerServile flatterer of superiors
- fawnerOne who flatters servilely
- yes-manUncritical agreeable subordinate
apple-polisher · flatterer · schmoozer · sweet-talker · charmer · complimenter · smooth-talker · adulator
One who abases themselves
- lickspittleServile flatterer seeking favor
- cringerOne who cowers
- doormatEntry rug for wiping
- lackeyServile follower or minion
flunkey · minion · underling · stooge · puppet · spaniel · parasite · leech
Fawning flatterer for gain
- climberOne who scales
- careeristAdvancement-obsessed professional
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
- self-promotionPublicizing one's own merits
ingratiating
Seeking favor through flattery
obsequious · servile · deferential · submissive · compliant · fawning · groveling · sycophantic · toadying · bootlicking
sycophant
Servile praise-giver
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
- bootlickerServile flatterer of superiors
- fawnerOne who flatters servilely
yes-man · apple-polisher · flatterer · schmoozer · sweet-talker · charmer · complimenter · smooth-talker · adulator · cajolery
groveler
One who abases themselves
- lickspittleServile flatterer seeking favor
- cringerOne who cowers
- doormatEntry rug for wiping
lackey · flunkey · minion · underling · stooge · puppet · spaniel · parasite · leech · hanger-on
kiss-up
Fawning flatterer for gain
- climberOne who scales
- careeristAdvancement-obsessed professional
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
brownnosesrebels
Armed opposition fighters
defiers · insubordinates · mavericks · troublemakers · dissenters