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buttering up

NOUN

compliment

Synonyms

STRONGEST

admiration adulation applause blessing commendation courtesy endorsement homage ovation tribute

STRONG

acclaim acclamation appreciation approval bouquet cajolery comp confirmation congratulations encomium eulogy favor felicitation honor laud laurels notice orchid panegyric posy regard respects sanction sentiment veneration

WEAK

good word kudo laudation pat on the back warm fuzzy

Antonyms

STRONGEST

blame censure criticism disapproval disregard silence

STRONG

condemnation disfavor dislike disrespect ignorance neglect opposition refusal veto

WEAK

complaint denunciation insult libel slander

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Before Musk decided to exit OpenAI, Brockman described his attempts to gain more control over the company, an effort that included "buttering up" Brockman and another co-founder, Ilya Sutskever.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

Besides, Colby has long displayed a knack for buttering up his superiors.

From Slate • Jul. 8, 2025

The series opens with an epigraph from Nietzsche—“Without music, life would be a mistake”—and soon finds Cornelius buttering up his talent with monumental slabs of creamy fat.

From The New Yorker • Feb. 5, 2019

Mall operators are responding in part by upgrading their food game and buttering up desirable restaurateurs with the favorable rent and other concessions that used to go to department stores.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 26, 2017

Craphound was still buttering up the leather books' owner.

From Craphound by Doctorow, Cory

buttering up

Example Sentences

Related Words