as in fussing
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-polishing
Verb
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Yes, teaching by example is often a better way of handling a challenge than fussing about it.
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Ever the dedicated mother, Stacy runs to her adult daughter’s aid, fussing at her for not using a driver for her errands.
Verb
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Signs of heat stroke in dogs include heavy panting and drooling, being weak or lethargic, bright red gums and bloodshot eyes.
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This golden lasagna is the perfect way to offer a vegetarian option that meat-eaters will be drooling over.
Verb
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What distinguishes Camper, at least musically, is his deference to classic R&B signifiers without kowtowing to pastiche.
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After all, the series largely avoids other topical issues of modern campus life, from freedom of speech restrictions to administrators kowtowing to autocracies.
Verb
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But the food justified every rave review, hour-long wait for a table, and fawning Instagram image.
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Pelley’s fawning interview with then-president Biden tells a different story.
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Cite this Entry
“Apple-polishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apple-polishing. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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