lickspittle
Obsequious yes-man type
A lickspittle is a servile flatterer—someone who fawns over powerful people to gain favor.
The word evokes someone so desperate to please that they'd lick spittle from a superior's boots.
It's contemptuous: The CEO surrounded himself with lickspittles who never challenged his decisions.
Obsequious flatterer seeking favor
- brownnoserServile flatterer seeking favor
- grovelerOne who abases themselves
- yes-manUncritical agreeable subordinate
- flunkeyServile attendant or follower
apple-polisher · suck-up · ass-kisser · backscratcher · hanger-on · doormat · spaniel · crawler
Servilely attentive to superiors
- servileExcessively submissive, lacking independence
- sycophanticServilely flattering
- unctuousExcessively and insincerely earnest
- smarmyInsincerely ingratiating
deferential · subservient · cringing · fawning · mealy-mouthed · oily · slavish · sniveling
Servile follower or minion
- minionServile subordinate
- underlingPerson of lower rank
- stoogeEasily manipulated pawn
- vassalLand-holding sworn subordinate
henchman · puppet · peon · thrall · retainer · acolyte · flunky · footman
Excessive insincere flattery
- grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another
- bootlickingServile flattery for advantage
- brown-nosingObsequious flattery for favor
- apple-polishingSycophantic behavior for advantage
toadying · kowtowing · cringing · cowering · bowing · scraping · genuflecting · prostrating
Extravagant, servile praise
- sweet-talkFlatter to persuade
- smarmInsincere fawning behavior
- ingratiationDeliberate favor-seeking behavior
- overpraiseCommend beyond merit
blandishment · cajolery · soft-soap · toadyism · sycophancy · obsequiousness · unctuousness
toady
Obsequious flatterer seeking favor
- brownnoserServile flatterer seeking favor
- grovelerOne who abases themselves
- yes-manUncritical agreeable subordinate
flunkey · apple-polisher · suck-up · ass-kisser · backscratcher · hanger-on · doormat · spaniel · crawler · truckler
obsequious
Servilely attentive to superiors
- servileExcessively submissive, lacking independence
- sycophanticServilely flattering
- unctuousExcessively and insincerely earnest
smarmy · deferential · subservient · cringing · fawning · mealy-mouthed · oily · slavish · sniveling · spineless
lackey
Servile follower or minion
vassal · henchman · puppet · peon · thrall · retainer · acolyte · flunky · footman · servant
fawning
Excessive insincere flattery
- grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another
- bootlickingServile flattery for advantage
- brown-nosingObsequious flattery for favor
apple-polishing · toadying · kowtowing · cringing · cowering · bowing · scraping · genuflecting · prostrating · truckling
adulation
Extravagant, servile praise
- sweet-talkFlatter to persuade
- smarmInsincere fawning behavior
- ingratiationDeliberate favor-seeking behavior
overpraise · blandishment · cajolery · soft-soap · toadyism · sycophancy · obsequiousness · unctuousness
- flatteryflatter, praise, flattery, compliment, compliments
- sycophantssycophants, toady, toadies, bootlickers, brownnosers
- hangers-onhanger-on, tagalong, leech, parasite, freeloader
lickspittleindependent
Free from external control
free spirit · maverick · nonconformist · rebel · straight shooter
lickspittlerebel
Authority defier
dissident · insurgent · iconoclast · contrarian · resister