Brownnosing

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Acting in a way that shows excessive admiration or flattery towards someone, often to gain their approval or advantage
2. Behaving with overdone praise or attention in order to win favor or get ahead with another person
3. Showing ingratiating or sycophantic behavior to please someone and obtain benefits or advantages

Etymology: "Brownnose" is a compound built from "brown," a crude word for excrement, and "nose." The image is literal: the person doing the flattering is pictured pressing their face against a superior's backside. The verb is the root, and the "-ing" form here is the participle, used as an adjective. Used this way, the adjective describes someone who fawns over people above them in rank, offering flattery and deference in a way that looks servile to everyone else. The crude image has stayed attached to the meaning, which is why the word still reads as an insult rather than a neutral description of ambition.

Synonyms: sycophantic, obsequious, flattering, fawning, servile

Antonyms: independent, outspoken, blunt, honest