as in to flatter
to praise too much
a candidate who knows that you have to massage the voters if you want to get elected
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of massage
Part your hair in sections and dispense the product along the scalp, then massage it in for 30 to 60 seconds to help boost absorption and stimulate circulation.
—
Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 24 Feb. 2026
Exercise of all kinds is also effective at stimulating the skin and muscles in a way that is similar to massage, Field said.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
His physiotherapist’s hands gently massage the back of his neck and the base of his jaw, searching for the vagus nerve.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Rosehip oil can be applied pure to clean, dry skin on both the face and body using a few drops massaged in gently.
—Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for massage
Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 24 Feb. 2026
Exercise of all kinds is also effective at stimulating the skin and muscles in a way that is similar to massage, Field said.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
His physiotherapist’s hands gently massage the back of his neck and the base of his jaw, searching for the vagus nerve.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Rosehip oil can be applied pure to clean, dry skin on both the face and body using a few drops massaged in gently.
—Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for massage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for massage
Verb
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Its silhoutte is relaxed but still makes sure to flatter your bum.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
24 Mar. 2026
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While intending to flatter his primary audience, King Philip II, as the one true ruler of all Iberian possessions, the official may have protested too much.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Davidson, a 6-foot-1 freshman, stroked a perfect shot from the right side to send the Trojans (18-13) into a second-round matchup with top seed South Carolina on Monday.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
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One contestant in a Travis Kelce butt cut leaped over an ironing board; another held a tape measure to his crotch and stroked it.—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bill Plaschke spoke a quiet and perhaps unintended truth in his column praising the competitiveness of the World Baseball Classic.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2026
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Both took time out from their preparations at Viejas Arena to praise each other.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Some buttering up in your prompt can likely produce this.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
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Enter Rutte, who knew Trump from his time as Prime Minister, and who got to work buttering up the American president.—
Tom Nagorski,
Time,
18 July 2025
Verb
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Buffett is known to personally congratulate the winners.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
23 Mar. 2026
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That 8-2 aggregate defeat by Paris Saint-Germain should be a wake-up-and-smell-the-coffee moment for those owners and executives who have spent the past few years congratulating themselves on a recruitment strategy that increasingly has the look of a social experiment.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Either way, the fat can get a smidge warm after rolling the pastry out, which will prevent it from puffing as much as possible when baked.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
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There’s head coach Reid kissing the Super Bowl trophy, quarterback Mahomes throwing a pass while horizontal in midair and Hall of Fame QB Len Dawson puffing on a cigarette in an image football fans know well.—
Lisa Gutierrez
March 20,
Kansas City Star,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Massage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/massage. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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