fawning

[ faw-ning ]

/ ˈfɔ nɪŋ /

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See synonyms for: fawning / fawnings / fawningly on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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

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.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

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Origin of fawning

fawn² + -ing² for the adjective; fawn² + -ing¹ for the noun

OTHER WORDS FROM fawning

fawn·ing·ly, adverbfawn·ing·ness, noun

Words nearby fawning

Favrile Glass, favus, Fawcett, Fawkes, fawn, fawning, fawn lily, fawny, fax, Faxa Bay, Fa Xian

How to use fawning in a sentence

My job is to cover you, not fawn over you or rip you — just report on you.
Fox News cuts away from Kayleigh McEnany news conference after she alleges vote fraud with no evidence|Elahe Izadi, Sarah Ellison|November 9, 2020|Washington Post
Of course, this could be explained by the admittedly large percentage of the audience composed of fawning film students.
James and the Giant Internet Company: Franco and AOL Get Kissy Faces|Amy Zimmerman|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sharpton, who once confessed he will never criticize the president, in his transparent fawning for access, has gotten it.
The Unsung Heroism of Jesse Jackson|David Masciotra|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Between the Walters fawning and the Colbert debacle, Amaitis is fortunate only to be paying a record fine.
Las Vegas Betting Scandal Earns $5.5 Million Fine but the Boss Walks|John L. Smith|January 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The fawning strangers ask questions like “What was it like…being shot at?”
American Dreams: The Essential Book of 2012|Nathaniel Rich|December 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The Guardian's Luke Harding, calling Assange a "fawning" interviewer, totally missed the point.
I Love the Julian Assange Show!|Tracy Quan|July 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST
They all immediately got up to make room for him, and handed him a chair in a manner the most servile and fawning.
Travels through the South of France and the Interior of Provinces of Provence and Languedoc in the Years 1807 and 1808|Lt-Col. Pinkney
The principles of liberty were the scoff of every grinning courtier, and the Anathema Maranatha of every fawning dean.
English: Composition and Literature|W. F. (William Franklin) Webster
There was nothing fawning in his attitude; he conducted himself with the dignity of a fallen monarch.
Four American Indians|Edson L. Whitney
Mr. Fogg, in the presence of Julius Marston, was properly obsequious, but not a bit fawning.
Blow The Man Down|Holman Day
Again he calls upon his fawning admirers to annihilate Christianity, to hunt it down, to vilify it, to ruin it.
The War Upon Religion|Rev. Francis A. Cunningham