smarm

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)Smarmy language or behavior.

   “Phil Hartman, the voice and soul of McClure, was the king of making everything sounds cheerful and positive, no matter how grim. McClure was the personification of smarm. He alone could say, “Your children are missing. I know because I murdered them with my own hands!” and make it sound like good news.”

2. (countable, slang, uncountable)A style of fan fiction in which characters are warm and caring toward each other but without sexual overtones.

verb

1. (intransitive)To fawn, to be unctuous.
2. (transitive)To address in a fawning and unctuous manner.

   “He rose ... on his wife's fortune and judicious smarming of powerful people.”