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

In a statement sent to Variety in March, Parton congratulated Cyrus on the anniversary special.

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
In the comments, fans congratulated Aly on her Broadway debut while others shared their disappointment over not being able to see the duo live.

— Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of congratulated

Verb

The transformation of the Madison plant was also applauded by the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners and Madison Mayor William Phillips.

— Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 25 Aug. 2026
His return was widely applauded by fans years after he was dropped for reasons that were never publicly explained either to him or to viewers.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of applauded

Verb

Conor Fitzpatrick, an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which brought the lawsuit, praised the ruling.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
The girls’ mother, Stephanie Soares, praised Legaspi and Feir for helping to motivate her daughters, as Naya has adjusted to using her prosthetic foot and Milayna has spent time outside of her wheelchair for the first time in her life.

— Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of praised

Verb

The music department, as well as Courcol’s lively directing and writing, must be commended for scenes of the brass ensemble playing and rehearsing, in a constantly dynamic interaction with dialogue.

— Caspar Salmon, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
Lyne commended the Chicago actor specifically for a scene partway into the movie, when Lane’s Connie is deep into her affair but Gere’s Edward only has vague suspicions.

— Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Aug. 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 Kim stroked a walk-off single into left field in the ninth inning off Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott to give the Atlanta Braves a 6-5 victory over the Dodgers on Wednesday night.

— Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 27 Aug. 2026
Afterwards, as Cheogyal puts it, the spiritual leader stroked his head with compassion.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of stroked

Verb

Trump was flattered into joining Benjamin Netanyahu in attacking Iran, where former presidents had the intelligence to refuse his appeals.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026
Curry processed the sentiment, flattered by the validation in their gratitude.

— Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of flattered

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Browse Nearby Words

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 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of buttered up

verb

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