flattery
Insincere praise given
Flattery is excessive or insincere praise, usually offered to gain favor or manipulate.
Unlike genuine compliments, flattery has an agenda—the flatterer wants something.
She saw through his flattery immediately.
The line between flattery and sincere admiration depends on motive and proportion: A little flattery never hurts, but don't overdo it.
Excessive insincere flattery
- sycophancyObsequious behavior toward authority
- obsequiousnessServile eagerness to please
- toadyingObsequious behavior seeking favor
- bootlickingServile flattery for advantage
brownnosing · grovelling · crawling · smarm · apple-polishing · schmoozing · ingratiating · servility
Words expressing approval
- commendationFormal expression of approval
- accoladeExpression of high esteem
- kudosPraise and honor
- applauseCollective hand-clapping approval
tribute · recognition · approval · endorsement · congratulations · appreciation · acknowledgment · esteem
Persuade through flattery
- suavityPolished social manner
- gallantryCourage, especially in combat
- witClever, inventive humor
- finesseSubtle, deft handling
polish · persuasion · blandishment · soft-soap · coaxing · wheedling · cajolery · blarney
Feigning belief or feeling
- calculatedFigured out mathematically
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- ulteriorIntentionally undisclosed
- self-servingBenefiting oneself primarily
duplicity · exploitation · machination · artifice · pretense · disingenuous · feigned · cunning
fawning
Excessive insincere flattery
- sycophancyObsequious behavior toward authority
- obsequiousnessServile eagerness to please
- toadyingObsequious behavior seeking favor
bootlicking · brownnosing · grovelling · crawling · smarm · apple-polishing · schmoozing · ingratiating · servility · subservience
compliment
Words expressing approval
- commendationFormal expression of approval
- accoladeExpression of high esteem
- kudosPraise and honor
applause · tribute · recognition · approval · endorsement · congratulations · appreciation · acknowledgment · esteem · respect
smooth-talk
Persuade through flattery
finesse · polish · persuasion · blandishment · soft-soap · coaxing · wheedling · cajolery · blarney · glibness
insincere
Feigning belief or feeling
- calculatedFigured out mathematically
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- ulteriorIntentionally undisclosed
self-serving · duplicity · exploitation · machination · artifice · pretense · disingenuous · feigned · cunning · strategic
- insincerityinsincerity, phoniness, fakeness, falseness, pretense
- pickup linespickup lines, openers, icebreakers, cheesy lines, smooth lines
- social behaviorcourtesy, etiquette, friendship, greeting, cooperation
- court intrigueintrigue, plots, schemes, plotting, conspiracy
- emotional appealsguilt trip, nostalgia, outrage, scare tactics, heartstrings
- flirtationflirting, come-ons, pickup lines, sweet talk, seduction
flatterycriticism
Judgment of faults
insult · disparagement · put-down · belittlement · derision
flatterycandor
Unguarded truthfulness
truthfulness · straight talk · bluntness · constructive criticism
flatterybrutal honesty
Unsparing directness in speech
harsh truth · tough love · unvarnished truth · plain dealing
- flatten the curveSpread outbreak over longer period
- flatten outMake smooth and even
- flattened outMade level throughout
- flatter oneselfHold inflated self-opinion
- flattened the curveSlowed disease transmission rate
- flattened riceGrain beaten into flakes
flatten, flatter, flattering, flattened, flatterer, flattered, unflattering, flatterers, flatteringly