as in obsequious
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as in sycophancy
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Dissimilar Words
as in fussing
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
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Recent Examples of fawning
Sarah Scott, Parents, 25 Aug. 2025
Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
With the Republican Congress fawning at his feet, the ideal of democracy that the will of the people governs the nation is being buried under multimedia waves of the autocratic ambition of wealth.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
The world has gotten a glimpse of the fawning, skeezy shamelessness of his famous hangers-on, but not enough to criminally implicate them.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Carolyn is not given to fawning or ass-kissing — only hours before meeting John, Carolyn advises her friend that the best way to get a guy’s attention is to ignore him.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
Beyoncé's Botticelli-esque waves are defined with ribbons of golden highlights that had audiences fawning.
—Audrey Noble, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
The flattery must forever escalate and grow more fawning, until every follower’s dignity is shorn away.
—David Brooks, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
And Williams and Storrie, the show’s stars, have become one of Hollywood’s favorite duos, with even fellow celebrities fawning over them.
—Natalie Bennett, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
The culprits were Gen Zers fawning over how cute cozy Snoopy was, often on social media.
—Malia Mendez, Twin Cities, 4 Jan. 2026
Noun
According to Gaiani, drinking or using drugs before social situations is a major sign that your teen may be using alcohol to cope with fawning and to feel more comfortable or confident.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
Infantino’s gesture might strike people unacquainted with World Cup history as shamelessly fawning.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
With the Republican Congress fawning at his feet, the ideal of democracy that the will of the people governs the nation is being buried under multimedia waves of the autocratic ambition of wealth.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
The world has gotten a glimpse of the fawning, skeezy shamelessness of his famous hangers-on, but not enough to criminally implicate them.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Carolyn is not given to fawning or ass-kissing — only hours before meeting John, Carolyn advises her friend that the best way to get a guy’s attention is to ignore him.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
Beyoncé's Botticelli-esque waves are defined with ribbons of golden highlights that had audiences fawning.
—Audrey Noble, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
The flattery must forever escalate and grow more fawning, until every follower’s dignity is shorn away.
—David Brooks, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
And Williams and Storrie, the show’s stars, have become one of Hollywood’s favorite duos, with even fellow celebrities fawning over them.
—Natalie Bennett, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
The culprits were Gen Zers fawning over how cute cozy Snoopy was, often on social media.
—Malia Mendez, Twin Cities, 4 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fawning
Adjective
-
Specific versions of ChatGPT have been singled out as being especially obsequious, and extreme cases have led to breaks with reality and explosions of violence.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
11 Mar. 2026
-
In fact, the obsequious Barack Obama and the hapless Joe Biden helped Iran by sending in plane loads of cash to the murdering mullahs in exchange for nothing.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Ignore the sycophancy, slurs, and slop, and there is very little—but still enough to make one wonder.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
-
As mentioned at the start of this discussion, the usual assumptions are that either the user tells the AI to do so, or the AI opts to proceed in that direction due to being shaped by AI makers toward exercising sycophancy.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Ever the dedicated mother, Stacy runs to her adult daughter’s aid, fussing at her for not using a driver for her errands.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Your son is fussing in his car seat.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
That this man’s-man tough guy becomes utterly servile in the presence of a bunch of slack-casual bazillionaires is the cherry on top of the fascist sundae.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Julia was the first weekly TV series that starred a Black woman in a role that wasn't servile.—
Starr Rocque,
PEOPLE,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the first act, a love potion instantly transforms contempt into adoration.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Coupled with adoration is an entitlement people feel to her, an element antithetical to her swag.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
What causes drooling There are numerous causes of drooling — some benign, others less so, experts say.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Even a small amount, whether inhaled or absorbed through the skin, can lead to drooling, vomiting, tremors, or difficulty breathing.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Hence the slavish social media posting, the manic email checking, the constant baked goods craving.—
Heidi Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Mar. 2026
-
But with Sleep No More, premiering in Berlin’s Special Midnight section this week, the director makes a headlong plunge into horror — infusing the genre with black comedy and a pointed critique of humanity’s slavish worship of capitalism.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Basij is a volunteer paramilitary force subordinate to the IRGC and has played a key role in suppressing protests and enforcing government authority inside Iran.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Her costume and hair shows how Linda is restricted by her times, presumed as being subordinate to her husband.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fawning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fawning. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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