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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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
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Enjoy flavored nuts, such as those that are candied, glazed, or honied, in moderation.—
Selene Yeager,
Health,
24 Feb. 2024
Verb
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Both Jeremy and Evi joined the couple for their engagement festivities and congratulated them in separate Instagram Stories.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
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Please join me in congratulating Peter on his new role and in welcoming him to Amazon.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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One game, especially one so dominated by the defense, certainly isn’t enough to decide whether this is even an issue, but noted QB whisperer O’Connell has to be stroking his chin.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
22 Sep. 2025
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But Ethan’s out there getting loose and stroking it.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The bamboo is wedged into a workbench, the chef drapes one leg over the far end, and bounces up and down to massage the dough.—
Kim Kay,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Sep. 2025
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According to Better Not Younger, massage the serum onto the scalp for two to three minutes once daily.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Johnson praised the president’s campaign advising Salvadorans on how to stay healthy during COVID-19.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
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Dean and Dan Caten recalled meeting Armani during many summer holidays throughout the Mediterranean and also praised his generosity toward them and young designers.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Finally, Berners-Lee stood, maestro-like, from the keyboard, turning to applaud each quadrant of the roaring crowd.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
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Tech Oversight, an AI oversight advocacy organization that set its sights on the California Legislature earlier this year, applauded Wiener and Newsom for supporting SB 53 despite Big Tech’s objections.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Cozens’ former teammate Kyle Okposo took to Cozens right away, even commending the youngster for his leadership skills.—
Julian McKenzie,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
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Carrie Severino, president of the conservative advocacy group Judicial Crisis Network, told the Washington Examiner that clearer emergency docket orders can help stop issues from returning to the docket, while commending the justices for taking up the FTC firing case.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The variety of jean fits is extensive, but straight-leg jeans are regarded as the most inclusive kind, flattering on most body types and heights.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
22 Sep. 2025
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And even if much of this is propaganda designed to flatter the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or push a particular narrative, studies have shown that even the most exaggerated propaganda can provide valuable clues to what leaders are thinking.—
David C. Kang,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Butter up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butter%20up. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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