buttering up 1 of 2

noun

as in soft soap

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buttering up

2 of 2

verb

present participle of butter up
as in sucking (up to)
to praise too much a flunky who shamelessly butters up the boss

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 buttering up
Verb
Yet, this will take a great deal of finesse, including pushing through a bill in parliament by buttering up Lord Hawthorne (Hugh Bonneville), who is willing to trade his vote for a night out with Susie’s brother, Jack (Harry Goodwins). — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026 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 The preview for The Muppet Show reveals special guest Sabrina Carpenter buttering up Miss Piggy backstage. — Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttering up
  1. soft soap
  2. praising
  3. sweet talk
  4. massaging
  5. fawning
  6. commending
  7. endearment
  8. stroking
Noun
  • People should wash any skin that comes into contact with the slurry with water and soft soap, before using a hand cream to avoid dryness and cracking.
    — Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 2 Sep. 2024
  • Founder and creative director Joy Cho’s lifestyle brand offers whimsical products, spanning bandages to soft soap, as well as regular editorial content online.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2021
Definition of soft soap
Verb
  • Rocked Fund Canada boss Augustin alson shared her concerns, while praising Jennings’ position.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Kelce began by praising the Colts and their effort in the game, as Indianapolis desperately wanted to avoid an 0-2 start.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of praising
Noun
  • Really, what writer, no matter how detached from their past, could resist that kind of sweet talk?
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Watch an encounter full of sweet talk, gaslighting and tension here.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of sweet talk
Verb
  • These included cleaning, caring for Chong’s children and massaging his feet without pay, 7NEWS reported.
    — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Other things to prevent damage prior to wearing stilettos can include stretching or massaging the arches of your foot.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of massaging
Noun
  • Experts say that fawning is a stress response that some teens use to appease the people around them.
    — Sherri Gordon, Parents, 5 July 2026
  • The fawning didn’t get him very far.
    — Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
Definition of fawning
Verb
  • Carrie Ann Inaba exclaimed, commending his groove and rhythm.
    — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026
  • In comments commending the two honorees, Caucus organizer Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, senior associate dean for leadership studies, noted that Pelosi and Pence are laudable regardless of one’s politics.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of commending
Noun
  • That Bournemouth are winless after four games of their Premier League season, with three points from the 12 available, is momentarily lost in a moment of mutual endearment — the city and the Brazilian striker have embraced each other.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Turns out, this is a term of endearment, not an insult.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 17 June 2026
Definition of endearment
Verb
  • Guests have reported footsteps in the attic, the feeling of someone stroking their face, a shower rode repeatedly flying off the wall and loud noises from outside the front door when no one is there.
    — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
  • There was only one other visitor, another mother stroking another small head.
    — Fran Moreland Johns, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026
Definition of stroking

Browse Nearby Words

butteries
buttering up
butters up
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Cite this Entry

“Buttering up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttering%20up. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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