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.

See Examples For:

lay it on thick

She tried to lay it on thick, telling the aide about the connections Waldorf and Sanders shared.

From Salon ● May 27, 2026

“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

Say anything you like, as long as you lay it on thick, and I'll back you up.

From Cue for Quiet by Sherred, Thomas L.

lay it on thick

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Related Words