Synonyms of brownnose
55 similar words
Another word for brownnose is bootlick. Other synonyms of brownnose are brown noser, adulator, apple polisher, arse-kisser and arse-licker.
Synonyms and similar words for brownnose
nounOne who sucks up; a bootlicker or sycophant.
- bootlickA toady or sycophant.
- brown noserOne who brownnoses (flatters or humors somebody in an obsequious manner for personal gain); one who sucks up; a...
- adulatorOne who lavishes excessive praises or flattery; one who adulates.
- apple polisherA sycophant; a toady.
- arse-kisser vulgarA sycophant.
- arse-licker vulgar
- ass-kisser vulgarSomeone who kisses ass (who acts obsequiously in order to gain another's favor).
- ass-licker vulgarSomeone who succumbs to authority, someone who excessively flatters or submits to authority figures in order to gain...
- bootlicker
- buttkisserSynonym of kiss-ass.
- buttlicker
- dickrider vulgarA subservient or obsequious person.
- doormat
- flattererOne who flatters.
- flunkey
- groveler USA person who grovels.
- groveller UKBritish standard spelling of groveler.
- hanger-on
- kiss-assAn obsequious person who tries to win the favor of someone, usually their superior.
- lackey
- lickspittle
- minion
- people pleaserAn obsequious, subservient person, especially in a workplace.
- pickthankA sycophant; one who meddles, tattles, informs (often in order to curry favour).
- schmoozerOne who schmoozes.
- simp slang
- suck upTo absorb (fluid).
- sycophant
- throne snifferA person who is servile to the point of self-degradation.
- toadeaterA fawning, obsequious parasite; a low sycophant or flatterer.
- toadyA sycophant who flatters others to gain personal advantage, or an obsequious, servile lackey or minion.
- white knight
- clawback obsolete
- lick-platter obsoleteA sycophant.
- lickpot obsoleteAn untrustworthy sycophant.
verbTo flatter someone (especially a superior) in an obsequious manner, and to support their every...
- butter upTo flatter, especially with the intent of personal gain.
- kiss upTo pay false flattery to another, particularly a superior at work, in order to get special attention.
- apple-polish USTo attempt to obtain favors, especially by flattery; to toady or fawn.
- bow and scrapeTo behave in a servile, obsequious, or excessively polite manner.
- dickride vulgarTo behave in a submissive, subservient, or overflattering manner toward.
- duchess AustraliaTo court or curry favour for political or business advantage; to flatter obsequiously.
- fawnTo seek favour by flattery and obsequious behaviour.
- fawn overTo praise excessively in order to get a favor.
- fellate figuratively, vulgarTo suck up to, to flatter or be shamefully subservient to.
- flannelTo flatter; to suck up to.
- honey around figurativelyTo cajole or sweet-talk (someone); to hang out around (someone) as a yes-man or toady.
- kiss someone's ass vulgarTo flatter someone (especially a superior) in an obsequious manner, and to support their every opinion to gain their...
- kiss someone's ringTo give respect or reverence to someone; to express servitude to someone.
- kowtow figuratively
- lick someone's ass vulgarTo flatter someone (especially a superior) in an obsequious manner, and to support their every opinion.
- lick someone's balls vulgarTo act in a subservient manner; to suck up to.
- overflatterTo flatter unduly or excessively; to overpraise.
- overpraiseTo do so toward a person.
- overrateTo esteem too highly; to give greater praise than due.
- honey up dated, figurativelyTo cajole, suck up to or sweet-talk (someone).
Meaning of brownnose
- noun One who sucks up; a bootlicker or sycophant.
- verb To flatter someone (especially a superior) in an obsequious manner, and to support their every opinion.
brownnose in other languages
Questions about synonyms of brownnose
- What is another word for brownnose?
- Brownnose has 55 synonyms on Word.ws, such as bootlick, brown noser, adulator, apple polisher, arse-kisser, arse-licker, ass-kisser and ass-licker.
- What does brownnose mean?
- Brownnose means one who sucks up; a bootlicker or sycophant.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: brownnose (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “Synonyms of brownnose.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/brownnose. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.