as in to curry favor
to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior
a departmental supervisor who apple-polishes shamelessly whenever higher-ups are about
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apple-polish
Verb
-
Helen bending at her wide waist, fussing again with the shoe, a cream leather high-top, cursing quietly under her breath, hair falling into her face.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 June 2025 -
As a storyteller, Tyagi isn’t too fussed about making his plot persuasive — the ease with which Nair and his co-counsel Dilreet Gill, played by Ananya Panday, manage to uncover evidence defies logic.—
Anupama Chopra,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The signs of a dog that is overheating include unusually excess panting and rapid breathing, drooling, lethargy or disorientation, and if their gums are bright red.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
6 July 2025
-
Panting, drooling, rapid heart rate and pale gums also point to the condition, and the dog may position its body in a downward-facing pose.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
But Congress’ fawning compliance is not the most alarming development.—
Steve Chapman,
Chicago Tribune,
2 July 2025
-
Throughout the footage, Leah, from Fort Worth, Texas, can be seen fussing Lunch Box and fawning over her sweet foster pup.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Apple-polish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apple-polish. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share