suck-ups

noun

plural of suck-up
as in sycophants
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

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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-ups The implication is that American troop positioning throughout Europe will go to the biggest suck-ups. — Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 22 Aug. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suck-ups
  1. sycophants
  2. toadies
  3. lickspittles
  4. minions
  5. bootlickers
  6. flunkies
  7. parasites
  8. fans
Noun
  • The sycophants sat on their hands while their constituents suffered.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Having been given countless opportunities to make their names in history as the conscience of the GOP, the six members of Arkansas' congressional delegation chose for the past decade to instead be Trump sycophants.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of sycophants
Noun
  • Rarely has a president been surrounded by such an array of toadies and lickspittles, operating beyond their competence in an atmosphere of organizational chaos.
    — Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Like the most treacherous toadies from literature — Iago, Wormtongue, Tywin Lannister — Miller managed to shove aside rivals to latch onto his master’s ear and guide him toward more evil.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Definition of toadies
Noun
  • Rarely has a president been surrounded by such an array of toadies and lickspittles, operating beyond their competence in an atmosphere of organizational chaos.
    — Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Firmly in control of the nation’s massive federal apparatus, MAGA and its Republican lickspittles in Congress have thrived on chaos.
    — Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
Definition of lickspittles
Noun
  • Dozens and dozens of Trump minions parroted the same line for days — how dare Obama mock such a beloved American eatery?
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Gavin Newsom’s legislative minions just got a lesson in constitutional supremacy.
    — , FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of minions
Noun
  • The result of this dynamic tension of bootlickers, according to Bernhard’s narrator, is the perpetual elevation and official anointment of mediocrity.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
  • These are just some of the most prominent, powerful bootlickers stumbling right now on their own deceit and desperation.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Definition of bootlickers
Noun
  • Yasmin, Tender’s briefly installed head of communications, is the first of Whitney’s flunkies to defect.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
  • For instance, Bolsonaro’s flunkies penetrated the government agency that handled film distribution.
    — Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
Definition of flunkies
Noun
  • Different parasites have evolved different ways to interfere with those systems.
    — Tara Deans, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The intestinal parasites feast on their hosts, sucking valuable nutrients from mammals.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of parasites
Noun
  • Many le Carré fans adore the books as an antidote to the glossy, high-octane adventures of Ian Fleming’s superspy, James Bond.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2026
  • For a long time, fans thought the song was originally written for Selena Quintanilla, though Pulido dispelled the rumors in an interview.
    — Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of fans

Browse Nearby Words

suck-up
suck-ups
suck (up to)
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Cite this Entry

“Suck-ups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suck-ups. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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