fawning

[faw-ning]

adjective

1. seeking favor by flattery or a servile way of behaving.

   The billionaire’s donation earned him a fawning front-page news story in the Globe and Mail.

   This detailed and favorable book review is not a fawning endorsement, as the reviewer takes the author to task on several points.

noun

1. the act or practice of seeking favor by flattery or a servile way of behaving.

   On the second-last night of the cruise, we witnessed the fawning of the ship’s wait staff as they jockeyed for a healthy tip.

Other Word Forms

• fawningly adverb
• fawningness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of fawning¹

First recorded in 1325–75; fawn ² + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective; fawn ² + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun

Example Sentences

It could be ‘financial fawning’ — here’s how to stop.

Read more on MarketWatch

These groups deserve shame, scorn and diplomatic rebuke — not fawning sympathy and United Nations red carpets.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

On Comedy Central, Stewart took a similar satirical approach, becoming a fawning and "patriotically obediant host" of an "all-new government approved Daily Show".

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Proxmire became addicted to the fawning press attention he got from caricaturing serious scientific research as ludicrous.

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Yet his fawning followers continue to reinforce their Dear Leader’s fantasy.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• flattering