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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