SUCKING (UP TO) Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

sucking (up to)

verb

Definition of sucking (up to)

present participle of suck (up to)

as in buttering up

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for sucking (up to)

Verb

Yet, this will take a great deal of finesse, including pushing through a bill in parliament by buttering up Lord Hawthorne (Hugh Bonneville), who is willing to trade his vote for a night out with Susie’s brother, Jack (Harry Goodwins).

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
Ben spends the afternoon buttering up Ellie and praising her cake-icing skills, and even gives her the task of decorating the wedding cake.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026

Definition of buttering up

Verb

Soon, the president of the United States (John Goodman) and his cabinet of fawning nitwits come to Casa Digger — because that’s how powerful Digger is — to plan the response.

— David Mack, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2026
His stature will prevent draftniks from fawning over him, and even opponents aren’t immune to underestimating him in person.

— Antonio Morales, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of fawning

Verb

The neighborhood/area A mile and a half away lies the pretty village of Lyndhurst, with its tourist-coaxing fudge shops and pubs, and a Ferrari dealer plonked incongruously among the red brick and timber quaintness.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
The curtness in his father’s voice was replaced by a syrupy, coaxing tone.

— Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of coaxing

Verb

What distinguishes Camper, at least musically, is his deference to classic R&B signifiers without kowtowing to pastiche.

— Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
After all, the series largely avoids other topical issues of modern campus life, from freedom of speech restrictions to administrators kowtowing to autocracies.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2026

Definition of kowtowing

Verb

But the Marlins plan to be moderately active in free agency — regardless of whether the owners succeed in cajoling the players to accept a salary cap and salary floor in what are expected to be contentious labor negotiations.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2026
In the clip, Bottomley’s character can be seen cajoling Howells’ Taylor into having a drink and letting loose at a house party.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of cajoling

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sucking (up)

sucking (up to)

suckle

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“Sucking (up to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sucking%20%28up%20to%29. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of sucking (up to)

verb

Example Sentences

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