Synonyms of fawn

fawn

verb

ˈfȯn 

as in to fuss

to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior

a student who could not wait to fawn over the new teacher

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fuss
• drool
• toady
• truckle
• curry favor
• kowtow
• bootlick
• submit
• kiss up to
• apple-polish
• suck (up)
• slobber
• court
• defer
• gush
• slaver
• woo
• idolize
• ingratiate
• coax
• adulate
• cower
• worship
• endear
• cringe
• cajole
• flatter
• yield
• overpraise
• blandish
• grovel
• demean
• soft-soap
• abase
• debase

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• despise
• scorn
• disdain
• scoff
• jeer
• jibe
• brave
• challenge
• defy
• gibe

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

Recent Examples of fawn

But nowadays, Musk sticks with ones that don’t challenge him, often with interviewers who fawn over his accomplishments rather than pushing him to answer important questions about his government work. —Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2025

Elisabeth, grasping for a reminder of her worth now that she’s seen the way people fawn over Sue’s youth and beauty, makes a date with a former schoolmate. —Time, 16 Apr. 2025

Jacobs’ date, Doja Cat, ran over to join the pair, upon which Erivo immediately began fawning over Doja’s sky-high shoes. —Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 5 May 2025

Here was a guy who tours the world playing 120 concerts a year to fawning fans, and here was my kid, not even three, sitting front row in his home studio in Varanasi, gobsmacked by the breakneck speed at which Mishra’s fingers slid up and down the neck of his surbahar (bass sitar). —Ashlea Halpern, AFAR Media, 30 Apr. 2025

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