Which word best describes someone who flatters others in a way that seems insincere?

Which word best describes someone who flatters others in a way that seems insincere?

• A. Scion
• B. Unctuous
• C. Incisive
• D. Larceny

Answer: (B)

The main idea is spotting a word that conveys insincere, smoothed-over flattery. Unctuous describes someone who flatters in a way that feels fake or oily—polite on the surface but lacking genuine warmth, often with a sense of manipulation or hypocritical charm. That nuance distinguishes it from ordinary praise. Scion means a descendant or heir, nothing to do with behavior or flattery. Incisive means sharp and decisive in thinking or speaking, not about insincerity. Larceny is a legal term for theft, unrelated to personal manner or flattery.

The main idea is spotting a word that conveys insincere, smoothed-over flattery. Unctuous describes someone who flatters in a way that feels fake or oily—polite on the surface but lacking genuine warmth, often with a sense of manipulation or hypocritical charm. That nuance distinguishes it from ordinary praise.

Scion means a descendant or heir, nothing to do with behavior or flattery. Incisive means sharp and decisive in thinking or speaking, not about insincerity. Larceny is a legal term for theft, unrelated to personal manner or flattery.