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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Ever the dedicated mother, Stacy runs to her adult daughter’s aid, fussing at her for not using a driver for her errands.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026 -
Your son is fussing in his car seat.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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However, hyponatremia, a condition that results from drinking too much water and effectively diluting the sodium content of your blood, can actually be far more dangerous.—
Brad Stulberg,
Outside,
26 Mar. 2026
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Binge drinking — defined as drinking five plus beverages in one sitting — drove the most liver disease deaths, with the greatest risk among those who engaged in binge drinking while living with type 2 diabetes or hypertension.—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The particles that make up these dark nebulae are of a finite size, and that size is extremely good at absorbing visible light.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel This cream has mastered the art of hydrating without feeling heavy, thanks to red bean water, which delivers moisture while also absorbing excess oil.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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These plants contain cardiac glycosides, which can cause unpleasant symptoms for dogs and cats alike, such as drooling, diarrhea, abdominal pain, abnormal heart rhythm, and even some neurologic signs.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
24 Mar. 2026
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Chewing on the bulbs can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea, profuse drooling and burns to the mouth.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Trading pencil skirts for scrubs and pilot uniforms, many women are making waves by taking up space in high-paying industries.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
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There are no indications that Congress is taking up the legislation.—
Berkeley Lovelace Jr,
NBC news,
18 Mar. 2026
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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 1 Apr. 2026.
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