Adulation, n.
Etymology: [F. adulation, fr. L. adulatio, fr. adulari, adulatum, to flatter.]
Servile flattery; praise in excess, or beyond what is merited. Think'st thou the fiery fever will go out With titles blown from adulation Shak.
Syn. -- Sycophancy; cringing; fawning; obsequiousness; blandishment. -- Adulation, Flattery, Compliment. Men deal in compliments from a desire to please; they use flattery either from undue admiration, or a wish to gratify vanity; they practice adulation from sordid motives, and with a mingled spirit of falsehood and hypocrisy. Compliment may be a sincere expression of due respect and esteem, or it may be unmeaning; flattery is apt to become gross; adulation is always servile, and usually fulsome.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for adulation; he lists it under praise.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.