adulation

excessive praise that feels flattering and hard to trust

Adulation is praise with the volume too high: applause becoming syrup.

The young actor enjoyed praise, but the constant adulation made honest advice harder to hear.

Adulation is not ordinary praise. Praise can help because it notices something real. Adulation piles praise so high that reality starts to disappear under it.

Keep the image simple: applause becoming syrup. Sweet at first, then sticky, excessive, and hard to trust.