Definitions

suck up to

VERB

apple-polish

Synonyms

WEAK

bootlick brown-nose butter up curry favor flatter grovel kiss someone's feet kowtow lick someone's boots sweet-talk toady truckle

VERB

brown-nose

Synonyms

WEAK

apple-polish back-scratch bootlick curry favor fawn on flatter get on the right side of grovel kiss ass scratch one's back toady

VERB

butter up

Synonyms

WEAK

adulate bootlick brown-nose build up cajole flatter inveigle lay it on thick massage play up to soften spread it on stroke 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 play up to rub the right way spread it on sweeten up work on work over

Antonyms

STRONG

discourage dissuade

WEAK

bully force

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 play up to run after seek friendship shine up to take pains with

Antonyms

STRONGEST

abandon damage decrease hurt

STRONG

condemn halt ignore neglect stop worsen

WEAK

destroy

VERB

curry favor

Synonyms

WEAK

back-scratch bootlick brown-nose cajole court dance attendance on fall all over fawn over flatter kiss up to pay court to sweet-talk toady to win over

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 play up to rub the right way spread it on 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 play up to

Antonyms

STRONG

ignore

WEAK

boast

VERB

pander

Synonyms

STRONG

cajole gratify massage please satisfy snow soap stroke

WEAK

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

Antonyms

STRONG

anger annoy disappoint disturb frustrate upset

WEAK

deny dissatisfy refuse

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 play up to rub the right way spread it on sweeten up work on work over

Antonyms

STRONG

condemn ignore irritate repel 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 play up to scratch one's back

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 play up to scratch one's back

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.

He returned it to King Charles II for his coronation, probably to suck up to royal favor again.

From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2023

“Your job is not to suck up to power, it’s to serve your viewers and readers by getting to the truth,” Mr. Carlson said.

From Washington Times • Mar. 21, 2023

Excuse me for a minute while I suck up to my boss.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 27, 2022

By the time it came out, he had correctly sussed out the most advantageous ways to suck up to the president by paying attention to the most minute details.

From Salon • Apr. 22, 2022

“She’s guarded, but she lets people in if she trusts them. Not the people who suck up to her, but people she cares about and who care about her. We have that in common.”

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

suck up to

Example Sentences

Related Words