sucks (up)

verb

present tense third-person singular of suck (up)
1
as in fusses
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
2
as in soaks (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 sucks (up)
  1. fusses
  2. drinks
  3. absorbs
Verb
  • Five-month-old Ladoo fusses in a hammock made from an old scarf.
    — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of fusses
Verb
  • On the palate, first sips are remarkably soft and approachable, and Hyperion drinks a touch below its 110 proof.
    — David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Then there are the other small appliances that have remained in their original boxes since your bridal shower, the dozens of reusable water bottles that no one ever drinks from, and the mysterious gadget that permanently lives in the utensil drawer.
    — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of drinks
Verb
  • This outer layer absorbs physical stress directly, protecting the delicate internal materials from bending or cracking under load.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
  • As Altman absorbs the public’s fears and frustrations over AI, the company has recently sought to elevate Brockman’s profile as a counterweight.
    — Alex Heath, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of absorbs
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

sucks in
sucks (up)
sucks (up to)
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Cite this Entry

“Sucks (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sucks%20%28up%29. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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