adular

To flatter — to praise someone insincerely or excessively, usually to gain favor: adular al jefe. Carries a negative connotation of sycophancy, unlike the more neutral halagar (to compliment), which can be entirely sincere.

• No me gusta la gente que adula a sus superiores. — I don't like people who flatter their superiors.
• Lo adularon para conseguir el ascenso. — They flattered him to get the promotion.
• Prefiero la crítica honesta a que me adulen. — I prefer honest criticism to being flattered.

Treating adular as neutral praise the way English 'compliment' can be — adular always implies insincerity or self-interest; for a genuine compliment, use halagar or elogiar instead.

Often confused with halagar.