as in brownnoser
a person who flatters another in order to get ahead
a transparent apple-polisher whose fulsome praise fooled no one
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apple-polisher
Noun
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Still, this has always been a very personal conflict between Yennefer and Vilgefortz, which is why Vilgefortz finally stops letting his minions do all the fighting and jumps through the portal himself.—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025 -
Others wore inflatable costumes, dressed as bumble bees, frogs, unicorns and a even minion.—
Vivian Jones,
Nashville Tennessean,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Extreme temperatures, parasites, viruses, fungi, and bacteria are all common dangers.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
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While striped skunk is edible, Coalition Brewing warns against its strong odor, scavenger diet and susceptibility to parasites.—
Stuart Dyos,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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There’s a Redwall vibe to the third installment, as fan-favorite rattkin Fern gets carried away on an impromptu adventure involving a chaos-goblin who holds a bounty tempting enough for all the ne’er-do-wells to try and collect on.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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In a video obtained by the Sun, Perry also hinted at their connection while rejecting another mid-concert proposal from a fan.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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This draft meeting resembled a bully in the high school cafeteria seeking toadies — any veneer of scouting objectivity was shed.—
Michael Hurley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Sep. 2025
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In the past, Newsom denounced judges who ruled against them as toadies of the firearms industry.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Other nice features include a handle that drops parallel with the floor to clean under furniture and a sponge mode that uses suction to help dry the floor after mopping.—
Editors of Bon Appétit,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 Oct. 2025
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Never leave your sponge in the bottom of the kitchen sink.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Trump’s ego and his lickspittles’ desire to feed it, should have nothing to do with commemorating the founding.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
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California’s vulnerable House Republicans are a diverse gaggle that includes new blood and old-timers, a Trump antagonist and a Trump lickspittle.—
Michelle Cottle,
Mercury News,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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If there were a Cruelty Olympics, Trump’s sycophants would all be elbowing each other for the gold.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Mercury News,
7 Oct. 2025
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The only character who seems entirely transparent is Frederik, who can’t hide his resentment of his second-class spousal status or his contempt for the sycophants and mediocrities who cling to his wife like barnacles.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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No one today is a slave or a slave-owner, but California would treat its diverse residents as such based on the identity of their ancestors.—
Andrew Quinio,
Oc Register,
29 Oct. 2025
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Consider Belindy, a Black character Gruelle created to be a slave mammy to Raggedy Ann.—
Essence,
Essence,
29 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Apple-polisher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apple-polisher. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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