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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Rose said Ye bought into her flattery and liked the idea of drinking booze and playing up his bigshot status.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
6 May 2026
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The couple had been drinking at the Abaco Inn and attempted to return to the yacht despite high winds and choppy seas, which Brian said caused Lynette to fall overboard.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Over the last few years, developers of wind and solar projects, most of whom aren’t from here, have been absorbing the bulk of this smoldering, communal wariness.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
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By 2008, New York City overhauled its building codes, fully absorbing the lessons of 9/11, with a focus on stair width, ceiling height, and airflow.—
Michelle Sinclair Colman,
Curbed,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Chase Reid, meanwhile, just put together a better-than-point-per-game season in the OHL and has the loud tools — the escapability and skating speed in particular — that have NHL scouts positively drooling.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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Predators respond with head shaking, gaping, drooling, and frantic licking.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Silk skirts are a staple of my travel wardrobe, taking up minimal suitcase space while stretching my outfit options.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Apr. 2026
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In a mostly party-line April 28 vote, 50 Republicans and one Democrat blocked the Senate from taking up the measure.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 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 10 May. 2026.
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