Adulates

Adulates is a term that can refer to individuals who practice adulation, or to the third-person singular present tense form of the verb adulate. In everyday use, the noun sense is uncommon; more typical terms for people who flatter are adulators or flatterers. The verb adulate means to praise or flatter excessively or obsequiously.

Etymology and forms: Adulate comes from Latin adulari, meaning to flatter or caress with praise, related to adulation, flattery. Although adulate as a verb is recognized in English, it remains relatively rare outside literary or formal contexts. The noun form adulate is rarely used; writers more often employ adulator, flattery, or sycophant when describing someone who performs such praise.

Usage and context: Adulates are commonly described in discussions of court life, celebrity culture, or political rhetoric, where individuals may excessively compliment a leader or power figure to gain favor. The term carries a negative or critical connotation in modern usage, emphasizing insincerity or strategic flattery rather than genuine praise. In historical sources, adulators are noted as part of the social machinery of influence, especially in empires and courts where flattering behavior could influence decisions.

See also: Adulation, Flattery, Adulator, Sycophant, Toady.

Note: For clearer or more neutral wording, many writers prefer using adulator or flatterer to refer to the person, and adulation as the act of praise. Adulate as a verb remains a stylistic choice rather than a common everyday term.