Adulation is excessive or intense praise or flattery, typically expressed publicly. It can also refer to the act of praising someone or something in an exaggerated, almost worshipful manner. The term often implies insincere or uncritical admiration, sometimes used to critique those who seek or receive praise excessively.
"The celebrity accepted the award with restrained gratitude, wary of the adulation of fans."
"Her speech was full of adulation, which made her colleagues uncomfortable."
"The team thrived on the coach's adulation, believing every compliment was a signal to keep going."
"Critics warned that the media's adulation could blind the public to the flaws in the project."
Adulation derives from Latin adulationem, meaning ‘flattery, fawning,’ from adulari ‘to flatter, to caress,’ which itself comes from ad- ‘toward’ + -dulare ‘to caress or soothe’ (resembling dulcis, sweet in Latin). The noun form adulation appears in English in the 17th century, reflecting the same sense of excessive praise. The word entered English through classical education and borrowed Latin roots that emphasize performative sweetness aimed at winning favor. Over time, adulation has retained its critical nuance: while it can denote sincere admiration, it more often carries a judgment about insincerity or unearned praise. The distinction between genuine appreciation and performative adulation remains central to its modern usage, especially in sociopolitical commentary and literary critique. First known uses can be traced to rhetorical contexts where speakers warned against the dangers of public adulation; by the 19th and 20th centuries, the term stabilized as a common descriptor for excessive praise in reviews, media, and culture. In contemporary usage, adulation is less about neutral admiration and more about a portrayal of praise that might undermine objectivity or critical thought. As a lexical neighbor, it is often contrasted with respect, admiration, and acclaim without the implication of flattery that adulation tends to evoke.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Adulation" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Adulation" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Adulation" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Adulation"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce as ə-ˈdyu-lā-shən in US; UK speakers often render it as ˌæd.ju-ˈleɪ.ʃən. The primary stress lands on the second syllable: dyu or dyu- depending on your dialect. Start with a neutral schwa, glide into a clear 'dyu' (d-yu), then 'lā' with a long 'a', and finish with 'tion' sounding like shən. IPA references: US əˈdyuːˈleɪʃən, UK ˌæd.juˈleɪ.ʃən. Listen for the yod-like initialization but avoid over-pronouncing it.,
Common errors include: (1) misplacing stress, saying ad-u-LA-tion or a-DU-la-tion; (2) merging the 'dyu' into a dull 'du' without the y-glide, and (3) shortening the final '-tion' to 'tion' as in 'shun' without the schwa. Correction: keep the 'dyu' cluster with a light 'y' sound before the 'u', stress the second syllable, and render the ending as '-shən' with a relaxed schwa. Practice with spaced repetition to solidify the glide and vowel lengths in US/UK variants.
US: ə-ˈdyu-lā-shən with a strong 'dyu' cluster and clear 'lā' vowel. UK: often stronger first syllable reduction and prominent 'dyu' with less diphthongization; some speakers render it as æd-joo-ˈleɪ-ʃən. AU: tends to be closer to US but with less rhoticity and a more clipped ending; the 'ˈleɪ' tends to be slightly shorter. In all, the key differences are stress placement and vowel quality in the second syllable, and the final syllable’s reduced vowel.
The difficulty comes from the yod-like /dyu/ onset after the unstressed first syllable, the long 'a' in the third syllable, and the final unstressed '-tion' which is a weak schwa + n in many dialects. Mastery requires timing the glide and vowel length, especially in fast speech, and keeping the main stress on the second syllable. Paying attention to the subtle vowel shifts in American, British, and Australian variants helps you avoid slipping into a generic 'uh-DA-lay-shun' pattern.
Yes. The 'dyu' cluster after an initial unstressed syllable is prone to being softened or aborted, producing 'uh-DA-lay-shn' or 'ad-yoo-lay-shun' without the 'l' alignment. The correct articulation is a clean 'dyu' onset, with the 'lj' blend avoided. Practicing the sequence da-ju- with a light y-bridge to the 'u' helps stabilize the second syllable’s vowel; the final 'tion' should be a weak 'shən' rather than a hard 'tion'.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Adulation"!
No related words found
