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Definitions

play up to

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.

Coach JJ Redick set the play up to miss it to the right side because that was supposed to be the side with just one defender.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

They are aware they could play up to 65 games in all competitions this season, after winning the Club World Cup this summer.

From BBC • Nov. 7, 2025

At first, the character is "uptight, serious, buttoned up", and Dennis has to curb his natural instincts to play up to the crowd.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2024

“They didn’t play up to their potential,” Schmetzer said of the entire team.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 17, 2024

Even the doctors and nurses play up to this: a donor on a fourth will go in for a check and be greeted by whitecoats smiling and shaking their hand.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro