buttered up

verb

past tense of butter up
as in congratulated
to praise too much a flunky who shamelessly butters up the boss

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttered up
  1. congratulated
  2. applauded
  3. praised
  4. commended
  5. massaged
  6. stroked
  7. puffed
  8. flattered
Verb
  • Speaker Yuri Bohlen congratulated Edmondson for replacing a council member who resigned amid recall efforts.
    — Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2026
  • Trump held calls with Zelenskyy and Putin over the weekend as both leaders congratulated the president on the 250th anniversary of the United States' independence.
    — Elise Spenner, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of congratulated
Verb
  • Johnson, of Louisiana, applauded Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, and others on the panel for moving swiftly to advance the resolution and unlock what would be Republicans’ third reconciliation bill this Congress.
    — Kevin Freking, Fortune, 15 July 2026
  • The chamber, filled with a number of Democratic and Republican senators, applauded after she was sworn in.
    — Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Definition of applauded
Verb
  • Councilman Jimmy Inman also praised the late man in an emotional Facebook post.
    — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
  • McMahon praised Wagner for complying with federal guidelines in a DOE press release.
    — Elijah Polance, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
Definition of praised
Verb
  • Donning a loud orange and curly wig, Tel commended KC for its hospitality as a host city.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026
  • As free press advocates rail against the privacy act lawsuit, Fox News commended the stay in a statement shared with The Guardian.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 June 2026
Definition of commended
Verb
  • Words have been parsed over, ideas about location, production design, costume, lighting have all been carefully massaged even up to the day of photography.
    — Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • Deirdre massaged my limbs while the cups went to work on my perpetually achy upper back.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
Definition of massaged
Verb
  • But Argentina’s talisman stroked it wide of the net.
    — David Hickey, NBC news, 23 June 2026
  • Mihyia Davis stroked the next pitch off Slimp’s glove in left for a double and Williams moved to third.
    — Tim Willert, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Definition of stroked
Verb
  • Featuring a delicate lace trim, a V-neckline, buttons up the front, and lightly puffed sleeves, this top is beyond gorgeous.
    — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
  • Meanwhile in Boston, England huffed and puffed but could not blow Ghana away.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Definition of puffed
Verb
  • With or without Balogun, the co-host will be feeling confident against a Belgium team that has flattered to deceive in this tournament so far.
    — David Hickey, NBC news, 6 July 2026
  • Marcus Rashford was quite wasteful against Panama and Bukayo Saka still doesn’t look fit enough after injury, while Noni Madueke has flattered to deceive.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of flattered
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.

Browse Nearby Words

butter
buttered up
butterfingered
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Cite this Entry

“Buttered up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttered%20up. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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