as in to honey
to praise too much
a flunky who shamelessly butters up the boss
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Recent Examples of butter up
Some buttering up in your prompt can likely produce this.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
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
Images of toadies buttering up an emperor come to mind.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 11 July 2025
Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images Anderson, currently a free agent, could be buttering up the Commanders to get a contract offer, but there is some truth to his statement.
—Victor Williams, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025
Add butter and pulse in or use a fork to break butter up into pea-size pieces.
—Mary Ann Esposito, Boston Herald, 21 May 2025
In contrast, Tai — who eventually becomes a powerful lawyer as an adult — often relies on buttering up her witnesses and using courtroom theatrics to get her point across.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2025
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
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
Images of toadies buttering up an emperor come to mind.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 11 July 2025
Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images Anderson, currently a free agent, could be buttering up the Commanders to get a contract offer, but there is some truth to his statement.
—Victor Williams, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025
Add butter and pulse in or use a fork to break butter up into pea-size pieces.
—Mary Ann Esposito, Boston Herald, 21 May 2025
In contrast, Tai — who eventually becomes a powerful lawyer as an adult — often relies on buttering up her witnesses and using courtroom theatrics to get her point across.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for butter up
Verb
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Her voice, languid and honeyed, can glide over sensual R&B, bouncing reggaetón, shimmering pop or nostalgic jazz.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
16 Oct. 2025
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Those harmonies — simultaneously honeyed and gravelly, providing just enough support without overshadowing, yet so powerful and full of potential — echoes Whitten.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
2 July 2024
Verb
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The Ole Miss coach wanted to shake his hand and congratulate him.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
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West, in an interview, congratulated Dokes on her decision to run and welcomed her to the race.—
Ella McCarthy,
Arkansas Online,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Ohtani stroked a triple into the right field corner in his first at-bat Thursday and scored on Mookie Betts’ double.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
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The Tigers tied the game in the eighth when Spencer Torkelson stroked a two-run double off reliever Matt Brash, who wound up getting the win.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Cornerback Darnay Holmes, suffering from a thigh cramp and desperate to return to the game in the final minutes, pulled down his uniform pants — exposing his backside — while a trainer vigorously massaged the area.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
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Some bridesmaids prayed, others massaged her head, while others burned Palo Santo and turned to natural remedies.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The bills were also praised by animal rights organizations; the governor also signed a bill this week to ban the declawing of cats in the state.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
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While praising Keaton as a performer, Meyers, who wrote Baby Boom and the Father of the Bride films and wrote and directed Something’s Gotta Give, looked back on their close working relationship.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The American president was in his element, often departing from prepared remarks in an address that extended for an hour in front of a crowd that was more than happy to applaud at every pause.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
13 Oct. 2025
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Many others applauded the boys for thinking of their safety first.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Stern later commended Winfrey's charitable work elsewhere in the episode.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
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The senators commended the agency’s recent commitment to conduct a safety review of mifepristone, but said the agency did not need to wait for the results to act.—
Nathaniel Weixel,
The Hill,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Your 11-year-old self must have felt quite flattered.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
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Purple-pinks are also flattering.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Butter up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butter%20up. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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