SUCKING (UP) Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

sucking (up)

verb

Definition of sucking (up)

present participle of suck (up)

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

as in soaking (up)

to take in (something liquid) through small openings these lilacs sucked up all the water I added to the vase yesterday

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sucking (up)

Verb

Similar to Egypt after its collapse earlier in the week, Switzerland exited fussing about the officiating.

— Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 12 July 2026
Yes, teaching by example is often a better way of handling a challenge than fussing about it.

— Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 17 June 2026

Definition of fussing

Verb

Haymitch has a supporting role in the original franchise, appearing as the disillusioned, hard-drinking mentor of Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen.

— Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026
Doe had been drinking before arriving at the fraternity house to meet a friend, according to the civil lawsuit.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of drinking

Verb

There was one of Melissa Gorga’s sprinkle cookies ground into the carpet, and there was Kelsey Swanson, passed out under the piano and drooling on the parquet.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Typical letdown game for a Florida team the national media just spent a week drooling over.

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of drooling

Verb

The other difficulty is that unlike in the case of Disney absorbing Fox, Goldberg and Greenstein are bound by consent decrees agreed to with the state AGs to settle an antitrust lawsuit.

— Brent Lang, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026
The group is silent and still, reverently absorbing the mechanical chug of this nearly outmoded office machine like Hollywood Bowl-goers taking in Joshua Bell.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of absorbing

Verb

That’s why the Jmdhkk Hidden Camera Detector may be a good investment to provide a level of safety to your stay without taking up excess space in your suitcase or being difficult to use.

— Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2026
Some are banning their kids from taking up football; others defend it for building bonds and teaching life skills.

— Alexandra Pattillo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of taking up

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Browse Nearby Words

sucking in

sucking (up)

sucking (up to)

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Style

“Sucking (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sucking%20%28up%29. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of sucking (up)

verb

Example Sentences

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