Some people bow too low; others stand too tall. This topic gives you words for both ends: the flatterers who will say anything to please someone powerful, and the bold ones who say whatever they like, no matter who is listening.
Key idea
Bowing: deferential (politely respectful, a good thing), then obsequious, servile and fawning (too eager to please), and the sycophant who flatters to get ahead. Standing too tall: insolent, impudent, brazen, and the nouns temerity and effrontery (nerve).
Good manners sit in the middle. Being deferential to a grandparent is kind; being obsequious to a boss is embarrassing; being insolent to anyone is rude.
The ten words
Common mistake
deferential is polite; obsequious is too much. temerity (nerve) is not timidity (shyness): they are nearly opposites.
| word | who | too much or just right? |
|---|---|---|
| deferential | politely respectful | just right |
| obsequious, servile, fawning | too eager to please or obey | too much |
| sycophant | a flatterer who wants favors | too much |
| insolent, impudent | rude to someone’s face | too much |
| brazen | bold with no shame | too much |
| temerity, effrontery | the nerve itself (nouns) | too much |
Temerity (nerve) and timidity (shyness) sound alike but are nearly opposites. And the verb fawn (to flatter) has nothing to do with a fawn, a baby deer.