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adulation

/ˌæʤəˈleɪʃən/
IPA guide

Other forms: adulations

If you've ever been to a pop concert filled with screaming fans you've probably been exposed to adulation — praise so over-the-top it's almost embarrassing.

The Latin word adulatio means "flattery." It's made up of the roots ad ("to") and ulos ("tail"), and if you're thinking of a dog wagging its tail to and fro to get a treat from its owner, you're on the right track. As anyone who's seen a crazed fan drooling over a celebrity knows, adulation is one of the more doglike of human behaviors.

Definitions of adulation
  1. noun
    servile flattery; exaggerated and hypocritical praise
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    type of:
    flattery
    excessive or insincere praise
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