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Meaning & use

fawner

noun·Advanceddisapproving

Last updated

UK/ˈfɔːnə/
US/ˈfɔːnər/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meaning

  1. nouncountabledisapproving

    A person who flatters and tries too hard to please someone powerful or important, usually in order to gain an advantage.

    Grammar: Often followed by of: a fawner of the boss.

    Patterns

    • a fawner of someone

    Everyone knew he was a fawner who laughed at every joke the director made.

    The new manager disliked fawners and preferred honest feedback.

    She refused to be a fawner just to win a promotion.

Word forms

pluralfawners

Common combinations

a shameless fawner
He was a shameless fawner around visiting celebrities.
surrounded by fawners
The king was surrounded by fawners.
a fawner and flatterer
They saw him as a fawner and flatterer.
treat someone as a fawner
She treated him as a fawner and ignored him.

Synonyms and how they differ

sycophant
This is a stronger, more formal word for a flatterer who seeks favors.
toady
This stresses lowly servile behavior, often toward a boss.
flatterer
This is more neutral and may not imply the same servility.

Word family

fawn verb
to flatter excessively
fawning adjective
showing exaggerated flattery
fawningly adverb
in an overly flattering way

Commonly confused: fawner or faun?

fawner vs faun

A faun is a mythical half-goat creature, pronounced the same way as fawn but unrelated to flattery.

Practice

Which person is best described as a fawner?

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