suck (up) 1 of 2

1
2
as in to soak (up)
to take in (something liquid) through small openings these lilacs sucked up all the water I added to the vase yesterday

Synonyms & Similar Words

suck-up

2 of 2

noun

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 suck (up)
Noun
Matthew eventually one-ups the request by losing his boxers as well and going full Winnie the Pooh, which earns him the respect of his fellow suck-ups. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Aug. 2025 But the joke’s on us — Republican senators, who are the only players with any real power to stop them, have simply decided not to, all so that President Camacho can play at government with his favorite suck-ups. S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2025 Sara Fischer, Dave Lawler Dec 23, 2024 - Politics & Policy Media's suck-up moment Fearing political retribution and strained by new business challenges, media companies that once covered President-elect Trump with skepticism — and in many cases, disdain — are reconsidering their approach. Sara Fischer, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025 To be sure, plenty of companies are still committed to DEI programs, and not all executives are morphing into insufferable suck-ups. Allison Morrow, CNN, 4 Dec. 2024 Back in the dawn of the Trump era — just prior to his 2017 inauguration — the line of would-be suck-ups queuing up for face time with the president-elect included a man with a distinguished name. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2023 Still, gossip mongers and suck-ups won’t go away unless managers remove the incentives to such behavior, while rewarding positive actions like collaboration. Matthew Boyle, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suck (up)
Verb
  • Others might tell you that hosting an awards show is a thankless gig, but Bargatze doesn’t seem fussed.
    Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025
  • This was the mid 1980s and tandem skydiving hadn’t been popularized yet, so his father, Roger, adjusted accordingly by stuffing carpet padding into the leg pads to stop him from fussing.
    Angelina Liu, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Anyone who’s drinking hot pumpkin spice lattes in a chunky sweater may need to rein it in for a little while.
    Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Delicious now, this will drink well for the next 4-6 years.
    Tom Hyland, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The rugged Renegade Evo leather boots sport a soft, shock-absorbing midsole layered over grippy Vibram rubber for a comfortable, slip-free experience on the trail.
    Alice Bennett, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The glossy marketing doesn't include a footnote about trust funds, family support or the ability to absorb year-over-year losses that would devastate most working families.
    Elle Wang, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Research shows that psychological safety is paramount for productive strategic discussions, yet many organizations inadvertently silence opposing voices in favor of those of the sycophant.
    Tracy Lawrence, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • But, even on a team of Trump sycophants, Bondi stands out for her fawning devotion.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Thank you to this show for giving us so many things to drool over every season.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Symptoms may begin within minutes, which include heavy drooling—especially in cats—and redness on the skin and in or around the mouth.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Such as holding court, choosing your sobriquet, and naming imbecilic lickspittles to our Kingsguard.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 7 July 2024
  • What happened to the idea that art and culture should be a contemptuous refuge from the mainstream, as opposed to this lickspittle, running dog accommodation to the mainstream?
    Billboard Staff, Billboard, 3 June 2022
Verb
  • That model, however, may be irrelevant once kowtowing to Trump becomes the essential task of every corporation.
    Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Clinging to its China dream, kowtowing to Beijing, does not guarantee an open market.
    Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • In the past, Newsom denounced judges who ruled against them as toadies of the firearms industry.
    Dan Walters, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Naturally his reliable Republican toadies lined up to support him.
    Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 8 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Suck (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suck%20%28up%29. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

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