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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
  • In praising Chatfield, Brown recalled a gathering at his home last year.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The night before, Adria Petty, Tom’s daughter, offered the transition from the performance to the award segment, praising everyone involved for an unforgettable moment on the long tail her father left behind.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 17 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
  • 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
  • Following the post Lola's Facebook post are comments commending the restaurant for helping the workers and community.
    — Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 11 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
  • There was only one other visitor, another mother stroking another small head.
    — Fran Moreland Johns, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026
  • Alongside Cruise feeding and stroking his dying cat while walking around his mansion with his gut hanging out, there are shots of planes readying for battle and collapsing polar ice caps.
    — Brent Lang, Variety, 15 Apr. 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 26 Sep. 2026.

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