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Definitions

lay it on thick

VERB
affect
Synonyms
STRONG
act adopt assume bluff contrive counterfeit fake feign playact sham simulate
WEAK
aspire to do a bit make out like put on put up a front take on
Antonyms
STRONG
stop tell the truth
VERB
butter up
Synonyms
WEAK
adulate bootlick brown-nose build up cajole flatter inveigle massage play up to soften spread it on stroke suck up to sweet-talk work on
VERB
cajole
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deceive delude dupe entice entrap seduce tantalize tempt wheedle
STRONG
banter beguile blandish bootlick con induce influence inveigle jolly lure maneuver mislead oil push snow soap soft-soap soften stroke sweet-talk urge
WEAK
apple-polish argue into brown-nose butter up get around get next to hand a line make up to play up to rub the right way spread it on suck up to sweeten up work on work over
Antonyms
STRONG
discourage dissuade
WEAK
bully force
VERB
exaggerate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
amplify distort emphasize fabricate falsify heighten inflate magnify misrepresent overdo overdraw overemphasize overestimate
STRONG
boast boost brag caricature color corrupt embroider enlarge exalt expand fudge hike hyperbolize intensify lie misquote pad puff pyramid romance romanticize scam stretch up
WEAK
blow out of proportion build up cook up go to extremes loud talk make too much of misreport pretty up put on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
compress contract decrease ignore lessen play down
STRONG
abridge be modest deprecate lower reduce shrink
WEAK
depreciate minimize understate
VERB
flatter
Synonyms
STRONGEST
charm
STRONG
adulate blandish bootlick cajole con court fawn glorify grovel humor inveigle jolly oil overpraise praise salve sell snow soft-soap soften stroke sweet-talk toady wheedle
WEAK
brown-nose build up butter up cater to get next to play up to rub the right way spread it on suck up to sweeten up work on work over
Antonyms
STRONG
condemn ignore
WEAK
belittle castigate criticize denounce insult offend
VERB
inveigle
Synonyms
STRONG
allure bait bamboozle beguile blandish cajole charm coax con decoy ensnare entrap hook influence jolly lure maneuver massage oil persuade seduce snow soft-soap stroke tempt urge wheedle
WEAK
egg on get around lead on play up to rope in soften up string along sweet-talk work over
Antonyms
STRONG
be honest disenchant dissuade
VERB
overplay
Synonyms
STRONGEST
exaggerate maximize overdo overemphasize overstate overuse
STRONG
accent accentuate dramatize hyperbolize magnify mug overact overdraw overstress overwork stretch
WEAK
blow out of proportion get carried away ham it up labor at point up show off
Antonyms
WEAK
play down
VERB
overstate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
amplify emphasize heighten inflate magnify misrepresent overdo overemphasize overestimate
STRONG
boast boost brag embellish embroider enlarge exalt expand fabricate fudge hike lie misquote pad puff
WEAK
blow out of proportion build up misreport play up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
compress contract decrease ignore lessen play down
STRONG
abridge be modest deprecate lower reduce shrink simplify tell the truth
VERB
sweet-talk
Synonyms
STRONG
adulate blandish bootlick cajole charm con court fawn glorify grovel humor inveigle jolly massage oil overpraise praise salve sell soft-soap soften stroke toady wheedle
WEAK
brown-nose build up butter up cater to get next to play up to rub the right way spread it on suck up to sweeten up work on work over
Antonyms
STRONG
condemn ignore irritate repel turn off

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.

“We are going to lay it on thick for her,” read one text from Howard.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 30, 2024

And sheesh, does the lead sponsor, Pennsylvania Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, lay it on thick.

From Slate • Apr. 3, 2024

McCarthy knows that we know that he knows that he can lay it on thick.

From New York Times • Nov. 28, 2022

On the world stage, it was Cameron’s turn to lay it on thick.

From The Guardian • Jul. 7, 2017

I shall lay it on thick, of course, about the millions, and before you know where you are, old bean, you’ll be hobnobbing with all the dukes and duchesses of the land.”

From Jacob's Ladder by Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)