Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The act of caressing or flattering servilely; mean obsequiousness.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb Present participle of
fawn .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective attempting to win favor by flattery
- adjective attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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It irked them that Alexander did not mock what they called my fawning barbarian ways, but chose me to compliment his guests of honor.
The Persian Boy Renault, Mary 1972
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I'm SO not usually one of those Austin fawning types.
Day in the Life of an Idiot lyda222 2009
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But I guess Bill Clinton's psychotic need for publicity, approval, and fawning is a little more important than the safety of Americans abroad ..... who are now in MORE danger as a result of this stupid publicity stunt.
North Korea feels 'owed' directs talks with U.S., Richardson says 2009
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Perhaps this dim-bulb mayor, and the MSM in fawning over Klepto Deb, are confusing pragmatist with pilferer or purloiner or maybe larcenist.
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The Greek is literally said of dogs wagging the tail in fawning on one.
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These profiles could hardly be called fawning or even admiring.
Peter Dreier: Why Does Anyone Take Andrew Breitbart Seriously? 2010
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These profiles could hardly be called fawning or even admiring.
Peter Dreier: Why Does Anyone Take Andrew Breitbart Seriously? 2010
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Their conspicuous consumption was glamorized by a media that coined fawning new terms to describe them, like "masters of the universe," but forgot relevant old terms, like "robber baron" and "vulgarian."
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On his next tour, when it came to all the "progress" training the Iraqi army, let Rod Nordland, the author of that "fawning" - his retrospective adjective, not mine - Newsweek cover piece of 2004, suggest an obituary, as he did in 2007:
Get out now. 2008
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I recall her fawning over him some years ago when he did some extra-special marriage+ thingy.
"Mike Huckabee has leaped ahead..." Ann Althouse 2007
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This, Bedera told Jezebel, is a common trauma response among victims known as “fawning,” as victims feel compelled to flatter and appease their assailant out of fear.
Not Only Do Campus Sexual Assailants Go Unpunished, They Often Get Special Treatment
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