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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Markle publicly congratulated the couple and liked Swift’s Instagram announcement of her engagement to Kelce.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
26 Oct. 2025
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Deputy prime minister Simon Harris also congratulated Connolly for her victory which is expected to be formally announced later on Saturday.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sometimes just stroking the ball to the other field, as Andres Gimenez did to drive in a run, or rolling one through the hole as Addison Barger did for an RBI in that inning, works just as well.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
29 Oct. 2025
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The scrawny stray Marlon Brando stroked in The Godfather was found on the Paramount lot the morning of the shoot.—
Steve Garbarino,
HollywoodReporter,
24 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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Earlier in the day, Knowles spoke with Sherri Shepherd on the Sherri show, and praised Blue Ivy for performing onstage with her mother in front of crowds of 70,000 people per night.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
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Nagy says Takaichi will likely praise Trump on his immigration policy, which has involved pursuing mass deportations and tightening restrictions on legal immigration.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Boss also applauded the managing team of Five Below for their strong direction and recent strategic initiatives.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
27 Oct. 2025
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Their remaining team-mates applauded the away enclosure, but many in that section were gesticulating their disdain.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While some on social media commended Curtis for having empathy toward someone with vastly different political views, others criticized her for appearing to excuse Kirk's controversial messaging, particularly his rejection of transgender people.—
Benjamin VanHoose,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
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Dicus commended Nunez, KNBC reported.—
Daniella Segura,
Sacbee.com,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Its loose, drapey fit is flattering and creates an effortless, classy look.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
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If ever there was a one-stop shop for designer seasonal finds that can flatter both you and your wallet, Old Navy’s latest endeavor is just that.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Butter up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butter%20up. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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