bootlick

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bootlick Those who delay this fate the longest are bootlicking mediocrities — the survival of the sycophants. Michael Gerson, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Mar. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bootlick
Verb
  • Vodka just keeps things boozy without fussing too much with the flavor.
    Emily Price, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
  • Sleep regressions refer to periods when a baby who previously slept well suddenly begins waking frequently, fussing more, or resisting bedtime.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • So, Murdoch will probably join the others in kowtowing to the commander-in-chief.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
  • That was part of a broader DeSantis attack against the House for kowtowing to liberal trial lawyers.
    Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2025
Verb
  • The Empire was a sinister, one-note shadow: faceless Storm Troopers, toadying fascistic generals, a cackling emperor, and of course Darth Vader, an enigmatic demon masked and cloaked in black.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The only other psychological need that rivals his thirst for toadying is the pursuit of .
    Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • His jaw wobbled unsteadily and a thin thread of spit drooled from the side of his mouth onto the counter.
    Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 16 July 2025
  • Early signs include excessive panting, drooling, lethargy and weakness.
    Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • Unless Trump’s art of the deal is all about truckling to Putin.
    Maureen Dowd, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Garbarino enjoyed his time with the Southern river rats and mountain folk, and their refusal to truckle to authority delights him to this day.
    David Samuels, Town & Country, 18 Oct. 2013
Verb
  • There’s a risk in becoming too attached to these fawning A.I.s.
    Paul Bloom, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
  • Now, with new music on the horizon and a run of live shows, excitement is revving up for a fresh set of viral moments to fawn over.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 2 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bootlick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bootlick. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!