FAWN Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'fawn' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of fawn are cower , cringe , toady , and truckle . While all these words mean "to behave abjectly before a superior," fawn implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention. // waiters fawning over a celebrity

Q: When is it sensible to use 'cower' instead of 'fawn'?

The meanings of cower and fawn largely overlap; however, cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people. // cowering before a bully

Q: When might 'cringe' be a better fit than 'fawn'?

While the synonyms cringe and fawn are close in meaning, cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility. // a cringing sycophant

Q: When would 'toady' be a good substitute for 'fawn'?

The synonyms toady and fawn are sometimes interchangeable, but toady suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude. // toadying to his boss

Q: When is 'truckle' a more appropriate choice than 'fawn'?

Although the words truckle and fawn have much in common, truckle implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior. // truckling to a powerful lobbyist

fawn

verb

ˈfȯn

Definition of fawn next

as in to fuss

to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior a student who could not wait to fawn over the new teacher

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fawn distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of fawn are cower, cringe, toady, and truckle. While all these words mean "to behave abjectly before a superior," fawn implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention.

waiters fawning over a celebrity

When is it sensible to use cower instead of fawn?

The meanings of cower and fawn largely overlap; however, cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people.

cowering before a bully

When might cringe be a better fit than fawn?

While the synonyms cringe and fawn are close in meaning, cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility.

a cringing sycophant

When would toady be a good substitute for fawn?

The synonyms toady and fawn are sometimes interchangeable, but toady suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude.

toadying to his boss

When is truckle a more appropriate choice than fawn?

Although the words truckle and fawn have much in common, truckle implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior.

truckling to a powerful lobbyist

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of fawn The mercurial billionaire’s fawning support of a Republican candidate who promises to roll back environmental progress is a dilemma for a company whose core buyers identify as climate-conscious Democrats. —

Alan Ohnsman, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 That’s meant eschewing traditional media interviews in favor of fawning long-form podcast conversations with laddish hosts who draw massive young male audiences, such as Theo Von, Lex Friedman, Logan Paul, the Nelk Boys, and Joe Rogan, who boasts the most popular podcast in America. —

Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024 The scene where Eve murders Heather with the weather in cold blood is absolutely chilling as Eve keeps a terrified Heather rooted to the spot when a cheery story about her and Nick being actors takes a hairpin turn into fawning over meeting her favorite TV personality. —

Erin Qualey, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2024 On his Fox show, Carlson did fawning interviews with four sitting heads of state, all aspiring proto-authoritarian strongmen: Nayib Bukele, of El Salvador; Jair Bolsonaro, of Brazil; Viktor Orbán, of Hungary; and Donald Trump. —

Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fawn

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fawn

Verb

The gizmo also includes haptic alerts that can wake you—but not your partner—if your child is fussing.

Chris Stokel-Walker, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
While some parents are fine with sleep training methods that involve lengthy separations from their babies, and a fair amount of crying and fussing, for other parents, these methods just don’t feel right.1 That’s where gentle sleep training come into play.

Wendy Wisner, Parents, 17 Sep. 2024