as in to honey
to praise too much
a flunky who shamelessly butters up the boss
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of butter up
As the lots rolled by, Mosoff watched quietly, still fortified by the exclusive tasting laid on to butter up bidders prior to the action.
—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
25 May 2026
Ben spends the afternoon buttering up Ellie and praising her cake-icing skills, and even gives her the task of decorating the wedding cake.
—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
Some buttering up in your prompt can likely produce this.
—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Images of toadies buttering up an emperor come to mind.
—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
11 July 2025
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
The preview for The Muppet Show reveals special guest Sabrina Carpenter buttering up Miss Piggy backstage.
—
Ashley Iasimone,
Billboard,
3 Sep. 2019
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
25 May 2026
Ben spends the afternoon buttering up Ellie and praising her cake-icing skills, and even gives her the task of decorating the wedding cake.
—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
Some buttering up in your prompt can likely produce this.
—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Images of toadies buttering up an emperor come to mind.
—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
11 July 2025
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
The preview for The Muppet Show reveals special guest Sabrina Carpenter buttering up Miss Piggy backstage.
—
Ashley Iasimone,
Billboard,
3 Sep. 2019
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.
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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.
Verb
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Owens was begrudgingly congratulated by Hitler, but neither he nor the other Black medalists were ever even acknowledged by Roosevelt, who had also refused to endorse a boycott of the Games—an effort led by Black and Jewish organizations that opposed both Nazism and American segregation.
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In a clip shared on social media, a beaming Kolek could be seen trotting alongside the parade barricade, where scores of fans enthusiastically extended their hands to high-five the point guard and congratulate him.
Verb
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But Argentina’s talisman stroked it wide of the net.
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The responder then bends down to gently stroke the bird before getting another idea.
Verb
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The in-shower treatment is meant to be used post-cleansing; simply massage it into wet hair and rinse it out two-to-three times a week.
-
Showerhead Upgrade An easier, DIY-friendly spa treat is a handheld massaging showerhead.
Verb
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Swift and Nicks have a long relationship and have often praised each other in public.
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Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin also praised the selection, saying Schroyer’s background positions him to advance the administration's immigration enforcement goals and called on the Senate to act quickly to confirm him.
Verb
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After a long line of speakers alternately applauded or slammed the McLean senior living complex’s bid to build 40 more homes, the zoning board in Simsbury continued its hearing until next month.
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Iran defying obstacles at the World Cup Iran’s Hossein Kanani applauds fans after a 0-0 draw against Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Verb
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As the search drags on, the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners on Tuesday commended police for their efforts after weeks of shooting incidents brought international attention to the city’s gun violence problem as thousands of soccer fans visit for the FIFA World Cup.
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In a news release announcing the arrest, Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter expressed condolences to the family and commended the professionalism of the responding officers.
Verb
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Rutte frequently flatters the president, crediting him with getting NATO members to increase their defense spending.
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Kamal’s not looking to become some celebrity chef, though the accolades are flattering.
Cite this Entry
“Butter up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butter%20up. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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