BUTTERED UP Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

buttered up

verb

past tense of butter up

as in congratulated

to praise too much a flunky who shamelessly butters up the boss

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttered up

Verb

The veteran coach congratulated his team for the win and quickly pivoted to yelling about mental mistakes that kept Houston County in the game.

— Jack Leo, AJC.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Fineman, 38, congratulated the newest SNL cast members in her own Instagram post after the big reveal.

— Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of congratulated

Verb

Republican lawmakers -- many of them in tough election contests where soaring fuel costs are driving voter anger -- praised the agreement.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
It was praised by criminal justice advocates as a step toward a new, more thoughtful approach to the court system.

— Riley Bunch, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of praised

Verb

Chicago 7th Ward Alderman Greg Mitchell, the main speaker at the unveiling, commended West’s cultural contributions and her legacy as an educator during her tenure at Chicago State University.

— Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Bragg, whose office had sought a 20-year prison term, commended Haley and all of the women who came forward against Weinstein, several of whom attended the hearing.

— Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of commended

Verb

The 2027 Silverado gets a broader, more muscular face, a new grille and redesigned LED lighting, while the bodywork has been massaged to make the truck look even more substantial.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Sep. 2026
The 24-time Grand Slam champion appeared to suffer a cramp in his left foot, threw up, and took a medical time-out to have his back massaged between the fourth and fifth sets before losing to Argentine player Mariano Navone.

— Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of massaged

Verb

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
Rookie Ethan Salas stroked an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning Saturday night as the San Diego Padres edged the visiting Miami Marlins 7-6.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of stroked

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butter

buttered up

butterfingered

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“Buttered up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttered%20up. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of buttered up

verb

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