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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suck-ups
  1. sycophants
  2. toadies
  3. lickspittles
  4. minions
  5. bootlickers
  6. flunkies
  7. parasites
  8. fans
Noun
  • Ditto his despicable aides and Cabinet members, his unprincipled sycophants and suck-ups.
    — Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 9 June 2026
  • Trump’s worried sycophants probably know that the details of an eventual agreement likely do not matter very much at this point.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 25 May 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
  • This iconic live-action movie features NBA superstar Michael Jordan, who is recruited by Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes, the Tune Squad, for a high-stakes game against an evil theme park owner and his minions, the Monstars, in outer space.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 14 July 2026
  • The rest of the Aquamarine team — including Cecilia’s minions, played by Tammin Sursok, Dichen Lachman and Natasha Cunningham — awaited in Australia.
    — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 14 July 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
  • But the parasites in the sequel are much more than some acid-blooded jack-in-a-box.
    — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 July 2026
  • Researchers say many parasites have evolved ways to avoid or delay elimination by the body's immune system, making long-lasting immunity difficult to develop.
    — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 16 July 2026
Definition of parasites
Noun
  • Telemundo isn’t totally new to his bar, which is a hotspot for loyal soccer fans.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
  • Many tiki fans cite a visit to the Tiki Room at Disneyland as the genesis of their obsession.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 18 July 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 20 Jul. 2026.

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