Looking for synonyms for yes man? We’ve got you covered!
Here’s a list of other ways to say yes man.
- Sycophant
- Flatterer
- Bootlicker
- Brown-noser
- Toady
- Lackey
- Flunky
- Apple-polisher
- Fawner
- Groveler
- Minion
- Puppet
- Stooge
- Subservient
- Doormat
Want to learn how to say yes man professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.
1. Sycophant
Appropriate Use: Suitable for someone who acts obsequiously toward someone important to gain advantage.
Example: “He’s a sycophant who agrees with everything the boss says, just to stay in good favor.”
2. Flatterer
Appropriate Use: Ideal for someone who gives excessive, insincere praise, especially to further their own interests.
Example: “In meetings, she’s known to be a flatterer, always complimenting the manager’s mediocre ideas.”
3. Bootlicker
Appropriate Use: Used for someone who acts in an obsequious or servile manner.
Example: “He’s viewed as a bootlicker, always trying to curry favor with the senior executives.”
4. Brown-noser
Appropriate Use: Suitable for someone who ingratiantes themselves with superiors through excessive flattery.
Example: “The team often joked about him being a brown-noser because of his constant praise of the boss.”
5. Toady
Appropriate Use: Refers to a person who behaves overly obediently to someone important.
Example: “She’s a toady, always agreeing with the director, even if it goes against team interests.”
6. Lackey
Appropriate Use: Ideal for someone who is excessively subservient to a more powerful person.
Example: “He’s just a lackey, following the CEO’s orders without question.”
7. Flunky
Appropriate Use: Used for a person who performs menial tasks for someone else.
Example: “As a junior associate, he often felt like a flunky, doing all the tedious work for his superiors.”
8. Apple-polisher
Appropriate Use: Suitable for someone who curries favor through flattery or obsequious behavior.
Example: “In the office, the apple-polisher is quick to take credit for others’ work in front of the boss.”
9. Fawner
Appropriate Use: Refers to someone who gives exaggerated flattery or affection.
Example: “As a fawner, he’s always the first to applaud the manager’s decisions, regardless of their merit.”
10. Groveler
Appropriate Use: Ideal for someone who behaves in a sycophantic manner to gain favor.
Example: “She’s a groveler, always excessively complimenting her superiors.”
11. Minion
Appropriate Use: Used for a follower or underling of a powerful person, especially a servile or unimportant one.
Example: “He never voices his opinion, acting more like a minion than a manager.”
12. Puppet
Appropriate Use: Suitable for someone who is controlled by others and is used to perform unpleasant or dishonest tasks for someone else.
Example: “In the team, he’s seen as the executive’s puppet, merely echoing their viewpoints.”
13. Stooge
Appropriate Use: Refers to a person who serves merely to support or assist others, particularly in doing unpleasant work.
Example: “He ended up being a stooge in the scheme, taking the fall for his boss’s misdeeds.”
14. Subservient
Appropriate Use: Ideal for someone who is prepared to obey others unquestioningly.
Example: “His subservient attitude makes him agree with whatever the committee decides, regardless of his own views.”
15. Doormat
Appropriate Use: Used for a person who is overly compliant or submissive.
Example: “In the corporate hierarchy, he’s often treated like a doormat, his ideas and opinions ignored.”
