Word of the Day : June 16, 2022

adulation

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noun aj-uh-LAY-shun

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What It Means

Adulation means extreme or excessive admiration or flattery.

// The movie star basked in the adulation of her many fans as she walked down the red carpet.

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adulation in Context

“The history that emerges here is of a band yo-yoing between attempts to be taken seriously as artists, then coming back for more boyband fame and adulation.” – Cath Clarke, The Guardian (London), 18 May 2022

Did You Know?

If adulation makes you think of a dog panting after its beloved person, you're on the right etymological track; the word ultimately comes from the Latin verb adūlārī, meaning "to fawn on" (a sense used specifically of the affectionate behavior of dogs) or "to praise insincerely." Adulation has been in use in English since the 15th century. The verb adulate, noun adulator, and adjective adulatory later followed dutifully behind.