fawn

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fawn distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of fawn are cower, cringe, toady, and truckle. While all these words mean "to behave abjectly before a superior," fawn implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention.

waiters fawning over a celebrity

When is it sensible to use cower instead of fawn?

The meanings of cower and fawn largely overlap; however, cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people.

cowering before a bully

When might cringe be a better fit than fawn?

While the synonyms cringe and fawn are close in meaning, cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility.

a cringing sycophant

When would toady be a good substitute for fawn?

The synonyms toady and fawn are sometimes interchangeable, but toady suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude.

toadying to his boss

When is truckle a more appropriate choice than fawn?

Although the words truckle and fawn have much in common, truckle implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior.

truckling to a powerful lobbyist

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fawn In the comments, Cyrus — whom Hurley tagged in the photo — fawned over his partner. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 2 July 2025 Her image is fawned over but also analyzed, co-opted, and monetized. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 30 July 2025 That was fair enough—not overly fawning, and largely true. Tom Nagorski, Time, 18 July 2025 The post was in response to a fawning message from Fox News celebrating Trump's announcement. Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for fawn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fawn
Verb
  • Inside, Seán glanced briefly away from the television as the women fussed at Orla’s return.
    Anne Enright, New Yorker, 27 July 2025
  • But other times, windows would be rearranged seemingly at random, with unused space and weird gaps that require you to fuss around and move all your windows around again.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 24 July 2025
Verb
  • Alice killing Jane gets its own paragraph: After awkwardly running like Taylor Swift in that treadmill commercial, Alice hops over Jane, grabs her by the throat, and feeds her to a drooling wolf.
    Wolfgang Ruth, Vulture, 1 May 2025
  • Symptoms may include excessive panting, glazed eyes, lethargy, drooling, vomiting, or confusion.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
Verb
  • The Empire was a sinister, one-note shadow: faceless Storm Troopers, toadying fascistic generals, a cackling emperor, and of course Darth Vader, an enigmatic demon masked and cloaked in black.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The only other psychological need that rivals his thirst for toadying is the pursuit of .
    Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Unless Trump’s art of the deal is all about truckling to Putin.
    Maureen Dowd, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Garbarino enjoyed his time with the Southern river rats and mountain folk, and their refusal to truckle to authority delights him to this day.
    David Samuels, Town & Country, 18 Oct. 2013
Verb
  • People still sleep on the streets and panhandle at intersections, and city leaders frequently face pressure to kowtow to special interests.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 July 2025
  • So, Murdoch will probably join the others in kowtowing to the commander-in-chief.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fawn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fawn. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

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