1
as in currying favor
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sucking (up)
Verb
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With five blades sandwiched between two moisturizing bars, this razor speeds up the entire process (no fussing around with shaving cream), nourishing dry skin and making nicks a rare occurrence.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 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
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For Slingerland, drinking alcohol and getting drunk are important to human well-being and complex societies.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
15 Oct. 2025
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One of the passengers had shown Matney a cell phone video in which everyone on the boat was drinking and Paul was steering the boat.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The eight books below are all absorbing enough to draw in longtime romance fans and newbies alike.—
Karen Ostergren,
The Atlantic,
13 Oct. 2025
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The more than one hundred-year-old company knows a thing or two about butter, and gave us pointers for how to keep butter fresh, safe to eat, and not absorbing odors.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Well, then it’s being stolen right out from under its retracting proboscis, which is actually just another drooling head that lives in its mouth.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
22 Sep. 2025
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The most common symptoms of teething include drooling, putting fingers or fists in their mouth, swollen or puffy gums, difficulty sleeping, crankiness and fussiness, per the institution.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Pair it with jeans, dress, midi skirts—pretty much anything, really—for an instantly polished look that adds an extra layer of warmth without taking up precious space in your luggage.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Oct. 2025
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The teacher opted to try taking up the carpet herself on the last day of school, but later submitted a work order after the job turned out to be too difficult to complete herself, the letter reads.—
JENNAH PENDLETON,
Sacbee.com,
10 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Sucking (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sucking%20%28up%29. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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