smarm
Slick false praise
Smarm is excessive, insincere charm—the oily flattery of someone who wants something from you.
A smarmy person oozes false friendliness: His smarm was so thick you could practically see him calculating what he'd gain.
The word suggests manipulation dressed up as warmth, the kind of behavior that makes you want to wash your hands afterward.
Obsequious behavior toward authority
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- adulationExtravagant, servile praise
- sweet-talkFlatter to persuade
- bootlickingServile flattery for advantage
brownnosing · apple-polishing · gushing · overpraise · pandering · schmoozing · ingratiating · complimenting
Covered in grease
- slickSmooth or craftily adept
- greasyCovered in slick fat
- smoothWithout roughness or difficulty
- suaveSmoothly refined in manner
unctuous · silky · slippery · glib · polished · oleaginous · slimy · buttery
Absence of truth
- phoninessQuality of being insincere
- disingenuousnessPretended ignorance or naivety
- pretenseDeceptive outward show
- affectationArtificial behavior for effect
artificiality · fakery · hypocrisy · duplicity · glibness · slickness · oiliness · unctuousness
Pleasure from one's achievements
- complacencyUncritical satisfaction with oneself
- superiorityHigher rank or quality
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
- patronizingTreating someone as inferior
self-righteousness · arrogance · pomposity · sanctimony · preachiness · holier-than-thou · know-it-all · superciliousness
sycophancy
Obsequious behavior toward authority
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- adulationExtravagant, servile praise
- sweet-talkFlatter to persuade
bootlicking · brownnosing · apple-polishing · gushing · overpraise · pandering · schmoozing · ingratiating · complimenting · kowtowing
oily
Covered in grease
suave · unctuous · silky · slippery · glib · polished · oleaginous · slimy · buttery · honeyed
falseness
Absence of truth
- phoninessQuality of being insincere
- disingenuousnessPretended ignorance or naivety
- pretenseDeceptive outward show
affectation · artificiality · fakery · hypocrisy · duplicity · glibness · slickness · oiliness · unctuousness · two-faced
self-satisfaction
Pleasure from one's achievements
- complacencyUncritical satisfaction with oneself
- superiorityHigher rank or quality
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
patronizing · self-righteousness · arrogance · pomposity · sanctimony · preachiness · holier-than-thou · know-it-all · superciliousness · snideness
- flatteryflatter, praise, flattery, compliment, compliments
smarmsincerity
Honest, unfeigned genuineness
genuineness · authenticity · candor · honesty · earnestness
smarmbluntness
Frank, unvarnished manner
directness · brusqueness · gruffness · forthrightness · terseness