Fawning — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun verb /ˈfȯ-niŋ/ fawn·ing

Meaning & Definition of Fawning

Fawning (adjective)

  1. seeking or used to seek approval or favor by means of flattery

Fawning (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in obsequious, subservient

    similar: kowtowing, obeisant, obsequious, servile, slavish, subordinate, subservient, amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, law-abiding, obedient, submissive, tractable, acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, duteous, dutiful, obliging, placable, soft, surrendering, yielding, decorous, disciplined, mannerly, orderly, constrained, curbed, inhibited, repressed, restrained, controllable, disciplinable, governable, handleable, manageable, tame, teachable, trainable, gentle, meek, mild
    opposite: insurgent, mutinous, dogged, hardheaded, headstrong, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, peevish, pigheaded, self-willed, stubborn, unyielding, uncontrollable, unmanageable, wild, balky, defiant, perverse, resistant, bad, disorderly, errant, misbehaving, mischievous, naughty, ill-bred, undisciplined, dissident, nonconformist, disrespectful, ill-mannered, impolite, impudent, insolent, rude, contrary, contumacious, disobedient, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, intractable, noncompliant, obstreperous, rebel, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, restive, unamenable, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful

Fawning (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in sycophancy, toadying

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

Fawning (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: apple-polishing, bootlicking, fussing, kowtowing, sucking (up), toadying, truckling, currying favor, kissing up to
    related: drooling, gushing, slavering, slobbering, endearing, ingratiating, courting, wooing, adulating, idolizing, worshipping, blandishing, cajoling, coaxing, flattering, overpraising, soft-soaping, cowering, cringing, groveling, abasing, debasing, demeaning, deferring, submitting, yielding
    near: despising, disdaining, scorning, gibing, jeering, scoffing, braving, challenging, defying

Related Entry: Fawn (verb)

Fawn is a different word from Fawning. The synonyms below are for fawn, not for fawning.

  1. 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"

    similar: apple-polish, bootlick, fuss, kowtow, suck (up), toady, truckle, curry favor, kiss up to
    related: drool, gush, slaver, slobber, endear, ingratiate, court, woo, adulate, idolize, worship, blandish, cajole, coax, flatter, overpraise, soft-soap, cower, cringe, grovel, abase, debase, demean, defer, submit, yield
    near: despise, disdain, scorn, gibe, jeer, scoff, brave, challenge, defy

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Fawning

The most common words with a similar meaning to Fawning:

British: flannel
kowtowing, obeisant, obsequious, servile, slavish, subordinate, subservient, amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, law-abiding, obedient, submissive, tractable, acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, duteous, dutiful, obliging, placable, soft, surrendering, yielding, decorous, disciplined, mannerly, orderly, constrained, curbed, inhibited, repressed, restrained, controllable, disciplinable, governable, handleable, manageable

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Fawning

Words with the opposite meaning of Fawning:

insurgent, mutinous, dogged, hardheaded, headstrong, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, peevish, pigheaded, self-willed, stubborn, unyielding, uncontrollable, unmanageable, wild, balky, defiant, perverse, resistant, bad, disorderly, errant, misbehaving, mischievous, naughty, ill-bred, undisciplined, dissident, nonconformist

Related Words for Fawning

drooling, gushing, slavering, slobbering, endearing, ingratiating, courting, wooing, adulating, idolizing, worshipping, blandishing, cajoling, coaxing, flattering, overpraising, soft-soaping, cowering, cringing, groveling, abasing, debasing, demeaning, deferring, submitting

Near Antonyms of Fawning

despising, disdaining, scorning, gibing, jeering, scoffing, braving, challenging, defying

Word Forms of Fawning

Derived words: fawningly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Fawning

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Fawning

What does "Fawning" mean?

"Fawning" means seeking or used to seek approval or favor by means of flattery. As an an adjective, a noun and a verb, it is defined as: seeking or used to seek approval or favor by means of flattery. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Fawning"?

Other words for "Fawning" include kowtowing, obeisant, obsequious, servile, slavish, subordinate, subservient and amenable. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Fawning" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Fawning"?

There are 111 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Fawning". Common alternatives include kowtowing, obeisant, obsequious, servile, slavish, subordinate, subservient, amenable, biddable and compliant.

What is the opposite of "Fawning"?

Antonyms of "Fawning" include insurgent, mutinous, dogged, hardheaded, headstrong, mulish, obdurate and obstinate. Near antonyms include despising, disdaining, scorning and gibing.

How do you use "Fawning" in a sentence?

Examples of "Fawning" in a sentence: "a student who could not wait to fawn over the new teacher".

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

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

How do you pronounce "Fawning"?

"Fawning" is pronounced /ˈfȯ-niŋ/ and divided into syllables as fawn·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Fawning"?

First known use: 14th century.