Polyglot Dictionary

adular

/aðuˈlaɾ/

verb C1

el (masc.) la (fem.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

V Register Neutral Era Current Frequency Academic Domain General Tone Neutral

Forms

present (yo)
adulo
preterite (yo)
adulé
past participle
adulado

Meaning

  1. to flatter

V Category Action Concreteness Concrete Agency Voluntary Duration Durative Transitivity Transitive

Similar words

lisonjear

adular and lisonjear both mean "to flatter" and are close synonyms, though lisonjear has a slightly more literary feel.

halagar

halagar is the more common, everyday word for flattering or complimenting someone, which can be genuine; adular usually implies insincere, excessive flattery — sucking up.

Similar in other languages

Portuguese

adular

adular is the Portuguese word for the same thing — both mean "to flatter."

Portuguese

lisonjear

lisonjear is the Portuguese word for the same thing — both mean "to flatter."

Practice

1 What does adular mean?

2 Which fingerprint chart matches adular?

verb

Last updated