brownnosing
Obsequious currying favor
Brownnosing is currying favor through excessive flattery or obsequious attention to someone in authority.
The image is crude but vivid—putting one's nose so far up someone's backside that it comes away brown.
A brownnoser is someone who habitually does this: He got promoted by brownnosing the boss.
The term is mildly vulgar but widely used.
Excessive insincere praise
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another
- bootlickingServile flattery for advantage
- apple-polishingSycophantic behavior for advantage
ass-kissing · toadying · kowtowing · schmoozing · pandering · ingratiating · complimenting · praising
Servile praise-giver
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
- bootlickerServile flatterer of superiors
- yes-manUncritical agreeable subordinate
- flattererOne dispensing insincere praise
lackey · minion · apple-polisher · ass-kisser · fawner · groveler · flunkey · lickspittle
Servilely attentive to superiors
- servileExcessively submissive, lacking independence
- subservientExcessively eager to obey
- sycophanticServilely flattering
- unctuousExcessively and insincerely earnest
deferential · slavish · cringing · adulatory · oleaginous · smarmy · sniveling · spineless
flattery
Excessive insincere praise
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another
- bootlickingServile flattery for advantage
apple-polishing · ass-kissing · toadying · kowtowing · schmoozing · pandering · ingratiating · complimenting · praising · sweet-talking
sycophant
Servile praise-giver
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
- bootlickerServile flatterer of superiors
- yes-manUncritical agreeable subordinate
flatterer · lackey · minion · apple-polisher · ass-kisser · fawner · groveler · flunkey · lickspittle · doormat
obsequious
Servilely attentive to superiors
- servileExcessively submissive, lacking independence
- subservientExcessively eager to obey
- sycophanticServilely flattering
unctuous · deferential · slavish · cringing · adulatory · oleaginous · smarmy · sniveling · spineless · mealy-mouthed
brownnosingdefiance
Open resistance to authority
rebellion · insubordination · dissent · talking back · resistance
brownnosingstraight talk
Honest, direct communication
candor · frankness · telling it like it is · brutal honesty · bluntness
brownnosingself-respect
Valuing one's own worth
dignity · pride · backbone · self-reliance · integrity
nostril, nosing, nosiness, brownnose, brownnoser, brownnosers, noselike, noseband, brownnoses