1. acts obsequiously toward someone in authority in order to gain favor
Usage: informal; derogatory

1. people who act obsequiously toward those in authority to gain favor
Usage: informal; derogatory; plural form

Examples

• He brownnoses the boss every chance he gets.
• She always brownnoses her teachers before exams.
• The manager is tired of employees who brownose instead of doing good work.
• Those brownnoses in the front row always agree with everything the professor says.
• Real leaders don’t surround themselves with brownnoses.
• The team captain called out the brownnoses who only praised the coach when he was listening.