kiss-up
Bootlicker seeking favor
A kiss-up is someone who flatters or ingratiates themselves with people in authority to gain favor: The new hire is such a kiss-up—always complimenting the boss.
The verb kiss up means to engage in this behavior: He's been kissing up to management ever since the promotion opened up.
The image is of someone literally kissing a superior's body in servile devotion.
Servile praise-giver
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
- bootlickerServile flatterer of superiors
- fawnerOne who flatters servilely
- lackeyServile follower or minion
groveler · brownnoser · flunky · yes-man · apple-polisher · minion · stooge · doormat
Seek another's approval
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
- grovelHumble oneself servilely
- kowtowExcessive deference shown physically
- suck-upOne who flatters superiors
crawl · truckle · cringe · defer · pander · cater · flatter · fawn
Excessively submissive, lacking independence
- obsequiousServilely attentive to superiors
- sycophanticServilely flattering
- subservientExcessively eager to obey
- deferentialShowing humble submission
fawning · groveling · unctuous · smarmy · ingratiating · toadying · mealy-mouthed · spineless
Obsequious behavior toward authority
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- bootlickingServile flattery for advantage
- toadyismServile flattery seeking favor
- sweet-talkFlatter to persuade
obsequiousness · gushing · overpraise · apple-polishing · brownnosing · schmoozing · grovelling · unctuousness
sycophant
Servile praise-giver
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
- bootlickerServile flatterer of superiors
- fawnerOne who flatters servilely
lackey · groveler · brownnoser · flunky · yes-man · apple-polisher · minion · stooge · doormat · crawler
ingratiate
Seek another's approval
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
- grovelHumble oneself servilely
- kowtowExcessive deference shown physically
suck-up · crawl · truckle · cringe · defer · pander · cater · flatter · fawn · brown-nose
servile
Excessively submissive, lacking independence
- obsequiousServilely attentive to superiors
- sycophanticServilely flattering
- subservientExcessively eager to obey
deferential · fawning · groveling · unctuous · smarmy · ingratiating · toadying · mealy-mouthed · spineless · cringing
sycophancy
Obsequious behavior toward authority
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- bootlickingServile flattery for advantage
- toadyismServile flattery seeking favor
sweet-talk · obsequiousness · gushing · overpraise · apple-polishing · brownnosing · schmoozing · grovelling · unctuousness · adulation
- flatteryflatter, praise, flattery, compliment, compliments
- sycophancyfawning, toadying, groveling, kowtowing, brown-nosing
- sycophantssycophant, sycophants, toady, toadies, bootlicker
- goody two-shoesteacher's pet, suck-up, brown-noser, do-gooder, saint
- fakesfake, fakes, counterfeit, counterfeits, imitation
- Work JargonASAP, FYI, EOD, synergy, deliverable
kiss-uprebel
Authority defier
insubordinate · mutineer · troublemaker · maverick · contrarian
kiss-upstraight shooter
Forthright, blunt person
truth-teller · true believer · honest broker · genuine article
kiss-upkick down
Force open by stomping
bully · petty tyrant · punch down · browbeater · intimidator
kissing, kissed, kisses, kisser, kissy, kissable, ass-kisser, kiss-ups