Adulatory — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˌa-jə-ˈlā-shən/ (noun) /ˌself-ˈa-jə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē/ (adjective) ad·u·la·tion

Meaning & Definition of Adulatory

Adulatory (noun)

  1. extreme or excessive admiration or flattery

Adulatory (adjective)

  1. expressive of excessive admiration or flattery for oneself

Adulatory (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. overly or insincerely flattering

    "an office flunky who can be counted on to make an adulatory response to the boss's every suggestion"

    similar: fulsome, gushing, gushy, hagiographic, oily, oleaginous, soapy, unctuous
    related: drooling, slavering, slobbering, cloying, sickening, demonstrative, effusive, mushy, uninhibited, unreserved, unrestrained, artificial, backhanded, feigned, hypocritical, insincere, left-handed, mealymouthed, sanctimonious, two-faced, disarming, endearing, ingratiating, winning, winsome, extravagant, lavish, abundant, copious, profuse
    near: artless, earnest, genuine, heartfelt, honest, ingenuous, sincere, true, unaffected, unfeigned, unpretending, unpretentious

  2. reflecting great admiration or devotion

    "an adulatory eulogy delivered at a beloved teacher's retirement party"

    similar: adoring, deifying, idolizing, worshipful, worshipping
    related: glorifying, reverent, reverential, venerating, hagiographic, affectionate, fond, loving, appreciative, deferential, respectful, approving
    near: condemning, contemptuous, disapproving, hateful, loathing, scornful

Related Entry: Adulation (noun)

Adulation is a different word from Adulatory. The synonyms below are for adulation, not for adulatory.

  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

Related Entry: Self-adulatory (adjective)

Self-adulatory is a different word from Adulatory. The synonyms below are for self-adulatory, not for adulatory.

  1. as in self-congratulatory, self-contented

    similar: self-congratulatory, self-contented, self-gratulatory, confident, self-assured, self-confident, self-applauding, self-dramatizing, self-glorifying, self-promoting, overconfident, presuming, presumptuous, self-affected, self-centered, self-engrossed, selfish, highfalutin, holier-than-thou, pretentious, condescending, patronizing, domineering, high-handed, imperious, arrogant, assumptive, bumptious, cavalier, chesty, disdainful, fastuous, haughty, high-and-mighty, high-hat, huffy, lofty, lordly, masterful, peremptory, pontifical, self-asserting, self-assertive, snobbish, snobby, snooty, supercilious, superior, toplofty, uppish, uppity, blusterous, blustery, boastful, bombastic, braggart, bragging, braggy, cocky, swaggering
    opposite: egoless, humble, modest, uncomplacent, diffident, self-critical, self-distrustful, self-doubting, self-reproachful, self-reproving, meek, timid, unassertive, down-to-earth, unarrogant, unassuming, unpretentious, bashful, demure, introverted, mousy, overmodest, retiring, sheepish, shrinking, shy

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Adulatory

The most common words with a similar meaning to Adulatory:

fulsome, gushing, gushy, hagiographic, oily, oleaginous, soapy, unctuous, adoring, deifying, idolizing, worshipful, worshipping

Related Words for Adulatory

drooling, slavering, slobbering, cloying, sickening, demonstrative, effusive, mushy, uninhibited, unreserved, unrestrained, artificial, backhanded, feigned, hypocritical, insincere, left-handed, mealymouthed, sanctimonious, two-faced, disarming, endearing, ingratiating, winning, winsome, extravagant, lavish, abundant, copious, profuse

Near Antonyms of Adulatory

artless, earnest, genuine, heartfelt, honest, ingenuous, sincere, true, unaffected, unfeigned, unpretending, unpretentious, condemning, contemptuous, disapproving, hateful, loathing, scornful

Word Forms of Adulatory

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

Origin & Etymology of Adulatory

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

Words & Phrases Containing Adulatory

self-adulatory

Frequently Asked Questions about Adulatory

What does "Adulatory" mean?

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

What is another word for "Adulatory"?

Other words for "Adulatory" include fulsome, gushing, gushy, hagiographic, oily, oleaginous, soapy and unctuous. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Adulatory" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Adulatory"?

There are 54 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Adulatory". Common alternatives include fulsome, gushing, gushy, hagiographic, oily, oleaginous, soapy, unctuous, adoring and deifying.

How do you use "Adulatory" in a sentence?

Examples of "Adulatory" in a sentence: "an office flunky who can be counted on to make an adulatory response to the boss's every suggestion"; "an adulatory eulogy delivered at a beloved teacher's retirement party".

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

"Adulatory" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Adulatory"?

"Adulatory" is pronounced /ˌa-jə-ˈlā-shən/ as a noun and /ˌself-ˈa-jə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē/ as an adjective and divided into syllables as ad·u·la·tion.

What is the origin of the word "Adulatory"?

"Adulatory" 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.

What is another word for "Adulatory" meaning "overly or insincerely flattering"?

When "Adulatory" (adjective) means overly or insincerely flattering, synonyms include fulsome, gushing, gushy, hagiographic, oily and oleaginous.