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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As the migrants boarded, a man hoisted one of the passengers in the air, a fussing 8-month-old baby whose face was flushed red from the heat.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025 -
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
Verb
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Staying active, meditating, drinking plenty of water and getting a full night’s sleep.—
Jackie Fields,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
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Snag drinking glasses for 50% off and organic cotton cloth napkins for more than half off, plus check out big savings on entire dinnerware sets and more.—
Paige Bennett,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Plant sterols and stanols block the body from absorbing cholesterol.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
8 Jan. 2026
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What has emerged for now is a system that survived by adapting, absorbing pressure, and recalibrating external relationships while preserving its internal foundations.—
Sanam Vakil,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CWD can take months to years for symptoms to appear, which could include drastic weight loss, stumbling or lack of coordination, drooling and listlessness.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
30 Oct. 2025
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Naturally, the post attracted over 16,000 comments of women drooling over him.—
Essence,
Essence,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Its foldable design with a snap closure keeps accessories organized, without taking up too much room in an everyday purse or carry-on bag.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
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Though once invited to appear in a film by Michelangelo Antonioni, travel restrictions of the era kept him from taking up the role.—
Annika Pham,
Variety,
7 Nov. 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 10 Jan. 2026.
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