Synonyms of suck (up)

suck (up) 1 of 2

verb

1

as in to fuss

to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior

a young lieutenant constantly sucking up to the commanding officer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fuss
• curry favor
• kiss up to
• drool
• kowtow
• apple-polish
• defer
• fawn
• submit
• toady
• bootlick
• court
• woo
• truckle
• ingratiate
• gush
• worship
• cringe
• endear
• slobber
• overpraise
• slaver
• idolize
• coax
• flatter
• cajole
• adulate
• yield
• blandish
• cower
• demean
• debase
• abase
• grovel
• soft-soap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• despise
• disdain
• scorn
• challenge
• jeer
• scoff
• defy
• brave
• gibe

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

• soak (up)
• drink
• absorb
• take up
• swallow
• sponge
• imbibe
• sip
• gulp
• slurp
• quaff
• guzzle
• swig
• swill

suck-up

2 of 2

noun

ˈsək-ˌəp 

as in sycophant

a person who flatters another in order to get ahead

I'd like to give my boss a birthday present, but I don't want to look like a shameless suck-up

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sycophant
• lickspittle
• bootlicker
• toady
• brownnoser
• minion
• fan
• flunky
• henchman
• parasite
• sponge
• admirer
• devotee
• slave
• apple-polisher
• fawner
• yes-man
• pupil
• apparatchik
• hanger-on
• lackey
• partisan
• disciple
• leech
• follower
• sponger
• enthusiast
• stooge
• satellite
• company man
• adherent
• lapdog
• zealot
• worshipper
• cultist
• idolater
• running dog
• groveler
• votary
• camp follower
• convert
• me-tooer

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of suck (up)

Noun

Ditto his despicable aides and Cabinet members, his unprincipled sycophants and suck-ups. — Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 9 June 2026

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

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