Adulation — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˌa-jə-ˈlā-shən/ ad·u·la·tion

Meaning & Definition of Adulation

Adulation (noun)

  1. extreme or excessive admiration or flattery

Adulation (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. excessive admiration of or devotion to a person

    "the pathetic adulation of the leader of the cult by her misguided followers"

    similar: deification, hero worship, idolatry, idolization, worship, worshipping
    related: adoration, deference, glorification, reverence, veneration, idealization, romanticization, affection, fancy, favor, fondness, like, liking, love, appreciation, esteem, regard, respect, approval
    near: condemnation, disapproval, disfavor, dislike, dismissal, disregard, hatred, loathing, scorn

  2. excessive praise

    "more objective critics have observed that the artist never deserved the adulation heaped upon her mediocre paintings"

    similar: blarney, butter, flannel (British), flattery, incense, overpraise, soft soap, sweet talk, taffy
    related: allurements, blandishments, endearments, caresses, compliments, congratulations, felicitations, greetings, regards, respects, adoration, idolatry, worship, fawning, sycophancy, toadying, cajolement, cajolery, ingratiation, smarm, acclaim, applause, commendation, praise
    near: bad-mouthing, belittlement, depreciation, detraction, disparagement, put-down

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Adulation

The most common words with a similar meaning to Adulation:

British: flannel
deification, hero worship, idolatry, idolization, worship, worshipping, blarney, butter, flattery, incense, overpraise, soft soap, sweet talk, taffy

Related Words for Adulation

adoration, deference, glorification, reverence, veneration, idealization, romanticization, affection, fancy, favor, fondness, like, liking, love, appreciation, esteem, regard, respect, approval, allurements, blandishments, endearments, caresses, compliments, congratulations, felicitations, greetings, regards, respects, fawning

Near Antonyms of Adulation

condemnation, disapproval, disfavor, dislike, dismissal, disregard, hatred, loathing, scorn, bad-mouthing, belittlement, depreciation, detraction, disparagement, put-down

Word Forms of Adulation

Derived words: adulate (transitive verb), adulator (noun), adulatory (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Adulation

Middle English adulacioun "insincere praise, flattery," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin adūlātiōn-, adūlātiō, from adūlārī "to fawn upon (of dogs), praise insincerely" (of uncertain origin) + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Adulation

Frequently Asked Questions about Adulation

What does "Adulation" mean?

"Adulation" means extreme or excessive admiration or flattery. As a noun, it is defined as: extreme or excessive admiration or flattery. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Adulation"?

Other words for "Adulation" include deification, hero worship, idolatry, idolization, worship, worshipping, blarney and butter. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Adulation" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Adulation"?

There are 55 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Adulation". Common alternatives include deification, hero worship, idolatry, idolization, worship, worshipping, blarney, butter, flannel and flattery.

How do you use "Adulation" in a sentence?

Examples of "Adulation" in a sentence: "the pathetic adulation of the leader of the cult by her misguided followers"; "more objective critics have observed that the artist never deserved the adulation heaped upon her mediocre paintings".

Is "Adulation" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Adulation" is a noun.

Is "Adulation" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Adulation" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Adulation"?

"Adulation" is pronounced /ˌa-jə-ˈlā-shən/ and divided into syllables as ad·u·la·tion.

What is the origin of the word "Adulation"?

"Adulation" comes from Middle English adulacioun "insincere praise, flattery," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin adūlātiōn-, adūlātiō, from adūlārī "to fawn upon (of dogs), praise insincerely" (of uncertain origin) + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action. First known use: 15th century.