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
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
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
Zelensky isn’t alone among prominent Ukrainians in trying to butter up Trump.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
Warming the milk and butter up first helps to avoid any milk fat white spots on top of your decadent chocolate cake.
—Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2024
Griffin isn’t the only big-name boss to try and butter up workers by putting on an unforgettable party.
—Byorianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2023
Ripple’s ongoing efforts to butter up the banking and corporate world have made the company, and by extension XRP, an object of hostility and derision among the rest of the crypto world.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune Crypto, 24 Mar. 2023
At the center: six cinnamon rolls that a candidate alleged had been used to butter up voters during the tight mayoral race in October.
—María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2023
Steele storms out, but Sarah stays behind to butter up the AG.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 21 Nov. 2022
Erin Qualey, Vulture, 28 Feb. 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
Zelensky isn’t alone among prominent Ukrainians in trying to butter up Trump.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
Warming the milk and butter up first helps to avoid any milk fat white spots on top of your decadent chocolate cake.
—Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2024
Griffin isn’t the only big-name boss to try and butter up workers by putting on an unforgettable party.
—Byorianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2023
Ripple’s ongoing efforts to butter up the banking and corporate world have made the company, and by extension XRP, an object of hostility and derision among the rest of the crypto world.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune Crypto, 24 Mar. 2023
At the center: six cinnamon rolls that a candidate alleged had been used to butter up voters during the tight mayoral race in October.
—María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2023
Steele storms out, but Sarah stays behind to butter up the AG.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 21 Nov. 2022
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
-
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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That ethical dodge — congratulating modern progress, ignoring this era’s nervous breakdown — is the basic, political, insensitive reason that contemporary Hollywood cannot create love stories.—
Armond White,
National Review,
25 Apr. 2025
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Celebrities and fellow golfers congratulated him after his big win.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Janine slips June a keycard and tells her to meet her there later, then scurries off to stroke stupid Bell’s stupid ego.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
22 Apr. 2025
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Research now shows that some stalwart seafarers stroked their way from mainland Europe to the island of Malta, about 60 miles away, about 8,500 years ago, according to an article in the journal Nature.—
Paul Smaglik,
Discover Magazine,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Gently massage the oil mixture into the scalp using your fingertips.—
Carley Millhone,
Health,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Hair oils, such as jojoba, argan, and coconut, may be massaged into your hair once a week.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Abel is well regarded by Berkshire's managers and Buffett has praised his business acumen for years.—
Time,
Time,
3 May 2025
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Star Florence Pugh and director Jake Schreier praise Marvel for making a big-budget comic book movie about such an emotional and real issue.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
EW.com,
3 May 2025
Verb
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On the touchline, meanwhile, Guardiola was extremely animated, pleading with his fans to have patience and applauding Ake’s more conservative decision.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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After Fitzgerald’s death, a wave of eulogies applauded the author, and at least a couple of them hailed his Jazz Age novel as a classic.—
Alexander Manshel,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Cantwell also threw her support to Isaacman commending both his business and space experience.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2025
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The White House commended the newspaper during one of its press briefings for making other changes to its newsroom in March.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The data is more current than the government’s monthly retail sales report but still could be flattered by Americans buying clothing, toys or other items before tariffs kick in.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
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The same day that Patel appeared before the Senate, a meeting of the Democratic National Committee began in Maryland, where officials squabbled over rules, were flattered by MSNBC hosts, and did not dare suggest that Biden ought not to have remained in the race for so long.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Butter up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butter%20up. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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