as in fussed
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apple-polished
Verb
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The crime went unsolved for many years, prompting Mason to start making this movie in the early 2000s, and the immediate conclusion to jump to is that the LAPD maybe wasn’t too fussed about it.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
13 Mar. 2026 -
Dunst doesn’t get fussed about that sort of thing.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
27 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Keong says these pillow protectors slide easily over her puffiest pillows, wash up well at the laundromat, and help prevent her new pillows from getting too drooled-on to be presentable for overnight guests.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Heated Rivalry cast being fawned over by celebrities at a fancy Hollywood party?—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
16 Mar. 2026
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Scarlet Darkness Floral Cottagecore Dress Romantics, cottagecore fans, and anyone who’s ever fawned over the cult-favorite Hill House Home nap dress should add the lookalike Scarlet Darkness Floral Cottagecore Dress to their carts immediately.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Apple-polished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apple-polished. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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