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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Her niftiest fight sequence looks like abstract art: a stark black-and-white aerial pan of her shadow battling minions down a hallway.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2025 -
Negan banished him and seized control of the Dama’s minions.—
Charlie Mason,
TVLine,
8 June 2025
Noun
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Eating prey can be dangerous for cats, especially mice, which can carry disease, parasites and even poison.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
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Ticks are products of their environment, and humans have played many roles in turning them into the harmful parasites that seek us out today.—
Sean Lawrence,
The Conversation,
18 June 2025
Noun
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Brit Page himself has been a popular fan pick to play 007 since his breakout starring turn in the first season of Netflix/Shondaland’s Bridgerton.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
8 July 2025
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Caitlin Clark’s presence on the Indiana Fever led to opposing teams changing venues to a larger seating capacity to host thousands more fans than usual for games.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
8 July 2025
Noun
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Courtesy of Lucasfilm On an isolated farm at the outer reaches of a fascist empire, a mid-level government toady interrogates his victims.—
Jake Kleinman,
Wired News,
23 Apr. 2025
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The anecdote illustrates the contrast in competence and grasp of real world dangers between Reagan’s team and Trump’s toadies — and also between these presidents themselves.—
George Skelton,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Avoid scrubbing the microwave’s interior with rough materials like steel wool or abrasive sponges.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
27 June 2025
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But, for the most part, a nice guy and a top-notch pain sponge.—
Whitney Friedlander,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
Noun
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Such as holding court, choosing your sobriquet, and naming imbecilic lickspittles to our Kingsguard.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
7 July 2024
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What happened to the idea that art and culture should be a contemptuous refuge from the mainstream, as opposed to this lickspittle, running dog accommodation to the mainstream?—
Billboard Staff,
Billboard,
3 June 2022
Noun
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Donald Trump and Elon Musk and their universe of sycophants who worship wickedness can’t be changed by continues eye contact.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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Make no mistake, the waste, fraud and abuse extends from the Oval Office and with support from congressional sycophants.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
29 May 2025
Noun
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The practice goes back to soon after the Civil War, when Congress ratified the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, in part to ensure that Black people, including former slaves, had citizenship.—
Tim Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2025
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The other was used by people descended from slaves brought from Southeast Asia to work for the Afrikaner farmers.—
Carey Baraka,
The Dial,
26 June 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 12 Jul. 2025.
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