namedropping
Casually citing acquaintances
Namedropping is mentioning famous or important people in conversation to impress others, implying personal connection or familiarity: The interview was mostly namedropping—she worked in every celebrity she'd ever met.
The practice suggests social climbing or insecurity.
Also spelled as two words or hyphenated.
Excessive self-praise
- showing-offOstentatious display of skill
- self-promotionPublicizing one's own merits
- flauntingOstentatious display of something
- grandstandingPerforming to impress onlookers
attention-seeking · impressing · swagger · one-upmanship · humble-bragging · self-aggrandizing · posturing · peacocking
Reputation commanding admiration
- eliteSuperior select group
- exclusivityState of being limited
- privilegeExclusive right or benefit
- cachetRespected status or appeal
aspirational · insider · VIP · upper-crust · jet-set · pedigree · blue-blood · A-list
Relationships between things
- contactsPeople you know professionally
- schmoozingCasual strategic socializing
- minglingCasual social interaction
- socializingEngaging with others recreationally
introductions · referrals · circles · rolodex · acquaintances · glad-handing · mixers · gatekeepers
Power to affect others
- cloutInformal power or punch
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
- associationGroup with shared aim
endorsement · validation · reputation · weight · cachet · legitimacy · vouching · coattails
Widely known, much recognized
- starLuminous astronomical object
- notableWorthy of attention
- A-listerTop-tier famous person
- iconPictorial screen symbol
luminary · personality · headline · tabloid · paparazzi · entourage · red-carpet · glitterati
Socially awkward, unrefined
- crassCrudely lacking refinement
- try-hardOne who overexerts conspicuously
- transparentAllowing light through
- awkwardLacking grace or ease
pretentious · off-putting · obnoxious · insufferable · cringeworthy · desperate · obvious · boorish
bragging
Excessive self-praise
- showing-offOstentatious display of skill
- self-promotionPublicizing one's own merits
- flauntingOstentatious display of something
grandstanding · attention-seeking · impressing · swagger · one-upmanship · humble-bragging · self-aggrandizing · posturing · peacocking · flexing
prestige
Reputation commanding admiration
- eliteSuperior select group
- exclusivityState of being limited
- privilegeExclusive right or benefit
cachet · aspirational · insider · VIP · upper-crust · jet-set · pedigree · blue-blood · A-list · snobbery
connections
Relationships between things
- contactsPeople you know professionally
- schmoozingCasual strategic socializing
- minglingCasual social interaction
socializing · introductions · referrals · circles · rolodex · acquaintances · glad-handing · mixers · gatekeepers · access
influence
Power to affect others
- cloutInformal power or punch
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
association · endorsement · validation · reputation · weight · cachet · legitimacy · vouching · coattails
famous
Widely known, much recognized
icon · luminary · personality · headline · tabloid · paparazzi · entourage · red-carpet · glitterati · starfucker
gauche
Socially awkward, unrefined
- crassCrudely lacking refinement
- try-hardOne who overexerts conspicuously
- transparentAllowing light through
awkward · pretentious · off-putting · obnoxious · insufferable · cringeworthy · desperate · obvious · boorish · graceless
namedroppingdiscretion
Careful judgment in speech
modesty · humility · reticence · understatement · self-effacement
namedroppinggenuineness
Quality of being real
sincerity · unpretentiousness · authenticity · straightforwardness · unaffectedness
drop, name, nickname, naming, dropped, renown, dropping, nameless, droppings