sycophantic
Obsequiously seeking favor
Sycophantic describes behavior that's excessively flattering or fawning, especially toward people in power.
A sycophantic employee agrees with everything the boss says.
The word carries contempt—it suggests the flattery is insincere, motivated by self-interest rather than genuine admiration: His sycophantic praise fooled no one.
Showing excessive admiration
- complimentaryFree or expressing praise
- laudatoryExpressing strong approval
- honeyedSweetened or flattering
- silver-tonguedPersuasively articulate speaker
sweet-talking · gushing · effusive · fulsome · unctuous · smarmy · oily · slick
Excessively eager to obey
- submissiveReadily yielding to control
- deferentialShowing humble submission
- obsequiousServilely attentive to superiors
- slavishExcessively submissive or imitative
meek · docile · compliant · acquiescent · biddable · yielding · pliant · unassertive
Servile flattery for advantage
- toadyingObsequious behavior seeking favor
- grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another
- kowtowingSubmissive display of respect
- cringingShrinking in discomfort
brownnosing · apple-polishing · crawling · sniveling · prostrating · genuflecting · bowing · scraping
adulatory
Showing excessive admiration
- complimentaryFree or expressing praise
- laudatoryExpressing strong approval
- honeyedSweetened or flattering
silver-tongued · sweet-talking · gushing · effusive · fulsome · unctuous · smarmy · oily · slick · smooth-talking
subservient
Excessively eager to obey
- submissiveReadily yielding to control
- deferentialShowing humble submission
- obsequiousServilely attentive to superiors
slavish · meek · docile · compliant · acquiescent · biddable · yielding · pliant · unassertive · spineless
bootlicking
Servile flattery for advantage
- toadyingObsequious behavior seeking favor
- grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another
- kowtowingSubmissive display of respect
cringing · brownnosing · apple-polishing · crawling · sniveling · prostrating · genuflecting · bowing · scraping · lickspittle
- dog traitsloyal, friendly, loyalty, devoted, playful
- submissivesubmissive, subservient, obedient, servile, docile
sycophanticsincere
Genuinely felt, not feigned
genuine · authentic · honest · candid · forthright
sycophanticdefiant
Openly resisting control
independent · unsubmissive · dignified · self-respecting · proud
sycophanticblunt
Dull or tactlessly direct
frank · direct · outspoken · brutally honest · plainspoken