glad-handed
Worked the room
Glad-handed is the past tense of glad-hand, meaning to greet someone with excessive warmth or friendliness, especially in a way that seems insincere or politically motivated.
Politicians glad-hand voters at rallies, shaking hands and smiling broadly while working a crowd: He glad-handed his way through the fundraiser.
The term carries a whiff of superficiality—warmth performed for advantage rather than genuine connection.
Chat to gain favor
- flatteryExcessive insincere praise
- butter upFlatter insincerely for advantage
- sycophantServile praise-giver
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
obsequious · toady · kowtow · brownnose · bootlick · apple-polish · suck up · cozy up
Fraudulent person or thing
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
- two-facedInsincere and deceptive
- hypocriticalFeigning beliefs one lacks
- feignedFalsely displayed or simulated
artificial · duplicitous · falsehearted · perfidious · hollow · superficial · plastic · sham
Casual strategic socializing
- minglingCasual social interaction
- socializingEngaging with others recreationally
- connectionsRelationships between things
- contactsPeople you know professionally
meet-and-greet · business cards · elevator pitch · working the crowd · conferences · trade shows · rapport-building · handshaking
Organized effort toward goal
- stumpTrunk base after felling
- rallyGathering for a cause
- constituentsParts of a whole
- lobbyistPaid legislative influencer
canvassing · rope line · town hall · fundraiser · donor · electioneering · photo op · soundbite
schmooze
Chat to gain favor
- flatteryExcessive insincere praise
- butter upFlatter insincerely for advantage
- sycophantServile praise-giver
fawning · obsequious · toady · kowtow · brownnose · bootlick · apple-polish · suck up · cozy up · backslapping
phony
Fraudulent person or thing
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
- two-facedInsincere and deceptive
- hypocriticalFeigning beliefs one lacks
feigned · artificial · duplicitous · falsehearted · perfidious · hollow · superficial · plastic · sham · contrived
schmoozing
Casual strategic socializing
- minglingCasual social interaction
- socializingEngaging with others recreationally
- connectionsRelationships between things
contacts · meet-and-greet · business cards · elevator pitch · working the crowd · conferences · trade shows · rapport-building · handshaking · introductions
campaign
Organized effort toward goal
- stumpTrunk base after felling
- rallyGathering for a cause
- constituentsParts of a whole
lobbyist · canvassing · rope line · town hall · fundraiser · donor · electioneering · photo op · soundbite · hustings
glad-handedcold-shouldered
Pointedly ignored socially
snubbed · rebuffed · shunned · ignored · brushed off
glad-handedheartfelt
Deeply and sincerely meant
genuine · sincere · earnest · unaffected · wholehearted
glad, hand, hands, handed, handing, handy, handily, gladly, gladness