Definitions

play up to

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allay v.
butter up v.
cajole v.
coddle v.
cultivate v.
fawn v.
flatter v.
grovel v.
ingratiate v.
inveigle v.
pander v.
placate v.
pursue v.
soothe v.
sweet-talk v.
tempt v.
toady v.
truckle v.

VERB

allay

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alleviate assuage calm ease lessen mitigate mollify pacify

STRONG

abate compose decrease lighten moderate quiet square

WEAK

cool out make nice pour oil on take the bite out take the sting out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aggravate agitate incite increase intensify irritate upset worry worsen

STRONG

enlarge

WEAK

provoke stir

VERB

butter up

Synonyms

WEAK

adulate bootlick brown-nose build up cajole flatter inveigle lay it on thick massage 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 lay it on thick make 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

coddle

Synonyms

STRONG

baby caress cosset cotton favor humor mollycoddle nurse pet spoil

WEAK

cater to make much of make over

Antonyms

STRONG

ignore neglect

WEAK

turn away

VERB

cultivate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bolster cherish develop encourage enrich improve nourish promote refine

STRONG

advance ameliorate better civilize court discipline elevate foster further nurse nurture polish train

WEAK

bring on brown-nose butter up get in with get next to get on good side of run after seek friendship shine up to suck up to take pains with

Antonyms

STRONGEST

abandon damage decrease hurt

STRONG

condemn halt ignore neglect stop worsen

WEAK

destroy

VERB

fawn

Synonyms

STRONGEST

crouch grovel

STRONG

abase blandish bow cajole cotton court cower crawl creep cringe debase defer flatter invite jolly kneel kowtow massage oil pander scrape slaver snow stoop stroke submit toady truckle woo yield

WEAK

apple-polish be at beck and call be obsequious be servile brown-nose buddy up butter up cater to cave in to curry favor fall all over fall on one's knees honey up lay it on lick boots make up to pay court

Antonyms

STRONG

fight ignore reject

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 lay it on thick 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

grovel

Synonyms

STRONGEST

beseech fawn

STRONG

beg blandish bootlick brown-nose court cower crawl creep cringe crouch flatter humor implore kneel kowtow pamper prostrate revere snivel soft-soap stoop truckle wheedle

WEAK

apple-polish beg for mercy bow and scrape butter up cater to eat crow eat dirt eat humble pie fall all over humble oneself kiss one's feet make much of make up to suck up to

Antonyms

STRONG

ignore

WEAK

boast

VERB

ingratiate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

flatter

STRONG

attract blandish captivate charm crawl grovel kowtow truckle

WEAK

brown-nose get in with hand a line insinuate oneself seek favor

Antonyms

STRONG

offend repel repulse

WEAK

deter disgust

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 lay it on thick lead on rope in soften up string along sweet-talk work over

Antonyms

STRONG

be honest disenchant dissuade

VERB

pander

Synonyms

STRONG

cajole gratify massage please satisfy snow soap stroke

WEAK

brown-nose fall all over lay it on play the game politic soften up suck up to

Antonyms

STRONG

anger annoy disappoint disturb frustrate upset

WEAK

deny dissatisfy refuse

VERB

placate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

appease assuage mollify pacify reconcile satisfy soothe

STRONG

calm cheer comfort conciliate humor propitiate soft pedal stroke sweeten tranquilize

WEAK

make peace make up pour oil on win over

Antonyms

STRONGEST

agitate incite irritate provoke upset worry

STRONG

aggravate trouble

VERB

pursue

Synonyms

STRONGEST

address chase go after sue

STRONG

call court date rush spark woo

WEAK

chase after go for pay attention pay court sweetheart

Antonyms

STRONG

ignore stop

WEAK

discontinue eschew give up retreat run away shun

VERB

soothe

Synonyms

STRONGEST

allay alleviate appease assuage cool mitigate mollify pacify relieve soften

STRONG

becalm cheer compose console dulcify help hush lighten lull quiet quieten settle square still stroke subdue tranquilize unburden

WEAK

balm butter up calm down cool off make nice make up patch things up pour oil on smooth down take the edge off take the sting out untrouble

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aggravate agitate incite increase intensify irritate provoke trouble upset worry worsen

STRONG

arouse bring down depress discourage disturb excite hurt move

WEAK

distress

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 lay it on thick rub the right way spread it on suck up to sweeten up work on work over

Antonyms

STRONG

condemn ignore irritate repel turn off

VERB

tempt

Synonyms

STRONGEST

appeal to attract captivate charm dare fascinate induce intrigue invite motivate persuade seduce stimulate tantalize woo

STRONG

allure bait coax court decoy draw entrap honey up hook incite influence instigate inveigle move oil promote provoke risk rouse solicit test train try wheedle whet

WEAK

butter up draw out lead on make mouth water mousetrap turn one's head

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bore depress discourage disenchant dissuade hinder offend prevent repel repulse

STRONG

delight deter dishearten dull halt please reject release stop turn off

VERB

toady

Synonyms

STRONG

bootlick cajole flatter kowtow massage oil stroke truckle woo

WEAK

apple-polish be servile brown-nose butter up fall all over fall on one's knees honey up kiss one's feet kiss-up lay it on lick boots pay court scratch one's back suck up to

VERB

truckle

Synonyms

STRONG

bootlick cajole flatter grovel kowtow massage oil stroke toady woo

WEAK

apple-polish be servile brown-nose butter up fall all over fall on one's knees honey up kiss one's feet kiss-up lay it on lick boots pay court scratch one's back suck up to

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.

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play up to

Leading Premier League clubs also compete for as many as four different trophies every season, meaning the best players are asked to play up to 60 games in a single campaign.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

“Didn’t play up to our standard in some areas, and had chances to finish that game,” Stafford said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 21, 2026

Bayern could play up to 64 games this season, and again many of their players will also feature in national team games on top of that figure.

From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2024

“We didn’t play up to our standard,” he said of last season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2024

George would use psychology on him; he’d play up to the vendor’s education.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

play up to

Example Sentences

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