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Meaning of fawning
The primary meaning of "fawning" is to show excessive flattery or attempt to win favor by flattering people or behaving in a way that is not sincere.
Etymology of fawning
The word "fawning" originates from the Old English word "fægan," which means "to rejoice" or "to be glad"
Historically, the term "fawn" referred to the young of a deer, and the act of fawning was associated with the affectionate and subservient behavior of a fawn towards its mother
Over time, the term "fawning" evolved to describe human behavior that is excessively flattering or submissive
Synonyms
sycophantic
obsequious
deferential
submissive
servile
groveling
cringing
cowering
truckling
toadying
flattering
ingratiating
conciliatory
appeasing
placating
soothing
mollifying
pacifying
calming
reassuring
comforting
coaxing
wheedling
cajoling
blandishing
honeyed
sugary
sweet-talking
smooth-talking
silver-tongued
insincere
hypocritical
duplicitous
double-faced
two-faced
false
pretended
affected
artificial
forced
strained
stiff
formal
stilted
rigid
inflexible
unyielding
unrelenting
uncompromising
uncooperative
unaccommodating
hostile
aggressive
confrontational
belligerent
pugnacious
combative
bellicose
argumentative
quarrelsome
contentious
disputatious
litigious
cantankerous
captious
carping
caviling
faultfinding
hypercritical
overcritical
perfectionistic
demanding
exacting
rigorous
stern
severe
austere
Spartan
ascetic
self-denying
abstemious
self-disciplined
disciplined
controlled
restrained
reserved
reticent
taciturn
uncommunicative
unresponsive
unsociable
aloof
distant
remote
detached
unapproachable
inaccessible
forbidding
uninviting
unwelcoming
unenthusiastic
uninterested
apathetic
indifferent
unconcerned
unbothered
unaffected
unmoved
unimpressed
Definitions
- Attempting to win favor by flattering people or behaving in a way that is not sincere
- * Showing or characterized by excessive flattery or fondness
Usage Examples
- The employee was fawning over the boss, trying to get a promotion
- * The celebrity's fans were fawning all over her, asking for autographs and selfies
- * The politician's fawning speech was seen as insincere by many voters
Antonyms
honest
sincere
genuine
authentic
truthful
straightforward
direct
frank
candid
open
forthright
blunt
brusque
curt
gruff
rude
impolite
discourteous
inconsiderate
thoughtless
insensitive
unfeeling
unemotional
unresponsive
unsympathetic
unkind
harsh
severe
critical
disapproving
condemnatory
dismissive
disdainful
contemptuous
scornful
disdainful
haughty
arrogant
condescending
patronizing
superior
lofty
proud
haughty
imperious
domineering
overbearing
oppressive
tyrannical
dictatorial
authoritarian