butter up

verb

Definition of butter upnext
as in to honey
to praise too much a flunky who shamelessly butters up the boss

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 butter up 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 After being buttered up, the AI or the evildoer lures them into the evil intricacies. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 16 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 The preview for The Muppet Show reveals special guest Sabrina Carpenter buttering up Miss Piggy backstage. — Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for butter up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for butter up
  1. honey
  2. congratulate
  3. stroke
  4. massage
  5. praise
  6. applaud
  7. commend
  8. flatter
Verb
  • The mouthfeel is thick, chewy, and honeyed, with a hint of marzipan.
    — Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Her voice, languid and honeyed, can glide over sensual R&B, bouncing reggaetón, shimmering pop or nostalgic jazz.
    — Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025
Definition of honey
Verb
  • Please join me in congratulating Kayleen and welcoming Maria to XBOX!
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Everyone kept congratulating her on the long overdue success.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of congratulate
Verb
  • The young woman on the left strokes her hair and tells her not to be nervous.
    — Anna Griffin, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Charli even stroked the bathroom hand dryer — a clever reference to everybody’s favorite scene in Desperately Seeking Susan.
    — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of stroke
Verb
  • The longer bristles can reach through the hair to massage the scalp, while the shorter ones help separate strands and work shampoo or conditioner through the hair.
    — Laura Sandroni, Vogue, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Someone from Hästens will come to your bedroom thrice a year to massage, fluff and flip those layers, thereby dispensing with whatever malformations your body may have inflicted upon its perfect design and making everything right in the world again.
    — Jaklin Romine Oct. 15, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of massage
Verb
  • Maiava echoed Riley’s sentiment when asked about Dyakonov, praising his ability to fill in for Paige on short notice.
    — Sean Campbell, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Prior to the first game of the ALCS, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt praised the Tampa Bay and Cleveland general managers respectively.
    — Isaac Tellechea, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of praise
Verb
  • The distance from May to October meant that people probably felt a little freer to applaud Busch’s life, without concentrating too much on the details of his tragic and unexpected death.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Ormond’s lawyers issued a statement on Thursday applauding the ruling.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of applaud
Verb
  • The Textile-to-Textile Ecosystem Award went to the Circulose Recycling Ecosystem, commending the brand commitments and fiber-producer partnerships supporting the Swedish company’s industrial restart.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • In a statement this week, the ACLU of Kansas commended Overland Park police for updating its policy, and for including community members in the process.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of commend
Verb
  • Making casual clothes look luxurious was hardly new, but Cucinelli did it in a way that flattered changing body shapes while establishing an instantly recognizable aesthetic.
    — Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Others, like Robert Rubsam in Vulture, have noted plenty of books that spotlight straight men, but in a less-than-flattering light.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of flatter

Browse Nearby Words

butters up
butter up
buttery
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Cite this Entry

“Butter up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butter%20up. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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