What does fawning mean?
Fawning means present participle and gerund of fawn.
Fawning
/fɔːnɪŋ/ · verb
Meaning
present participle and gerund of fawn.
Definitions by Sense
- present participle and gerund of fawn
- Seeking favor by way of flattery; flattering, servile.
- Servile flattery.
Example Sentences
That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired.
Shylock: How like a fawning publican he looks ![…]
Hamlet: No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp, And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee Where thrift may follow fawning.
Xantippus found his ruin ere it reached him, Lurking behind your honours and rewards; Found it in your feigned courtesies and fawnings.
Synonyms for fawning
Antonyms for fawning
Related Words
Word Forms
- fawnings
Usage Notes
Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.
Practice and Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a synonym for fawning?
Common synonyms include obsequious, insincere, sycophantic, bootlicking.
What is the opposite of fawning?
The opposite depends on the specific sense.
How do you use fawning in a sentence?
That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired.
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.