as in brownnoser
a person who flatters another in order to get ahead
a transparent apple-polisher whose fulsome praise fooled no one
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apple-polisher
Noun
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Could there be any truth to the fan theory that Greg was hiding on the boat when Tanya killed Quentin and his minions, then fatally conked herself in the head while escaping?—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
17 Feb. 2025 -
In the closing moments of the penultimate episode, Silver is plotting with his minions aboard his yacht.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Blood smear tests showed no evidence of parasites, and a computed tomography (CT) scan of her head showed no acute intracranial abnormalities.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
13 Feb. 2025
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Accident-only plans do not cover medical issues, such as parasites, cancer or cruciate ligament injuries.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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To all of you football fans making the post-Super Bowl pivot to college hoops, welcome.—
Brendan Marks,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
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Boise State basketball fans who use YouTubeTV to watch the Broncos likely will need to find a new way to watch starting as soon as this weekend.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The Cowboys found a toady to cede to Jerry Jones’ every demand.—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2025
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The high toady will be 61 degrees and the low will be 39 degrees.—
Elainie Barraza,
Orlando Sentinel,
12 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Care Instructions: After your ride, wipe them down with a damp sponge or cloth.—
Boutayna Chokrane,
WIRED,
16 Feb. 2025
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Wash grates and filters in the sink with a sponge, using a nylon scrub-brush if needed to remove stuck-on gunk.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Of course, being a junior senator and attaching your name to legislation that has little chance of being enacted—none of those have bills passed—is very different from being Vice-President and chief lickspittle to Trump.—
John Cassidy,
The New Yorker,
22 July 2024
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Such as holding court, choosing your sobriquet, and naming imbecilic lickspittles to our Kingsguard.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
7 July 2024
Noun
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However, Elez seems closely linked to Musk, who is often criticized for surrounding himself with sycophants.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
5 Feb. 2025
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This is a man who, in just over two weeks of his second term, has careened from one disastrous decision to another, to the point where even his most loyal sycophants are struggling to keep up.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
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As Hazel sets out on her journey, the ghost of a woman named Mahalia (also a Weaver) leads a group of spectral slaves on a quest for freedom and inadvertently teaches Hazel how to use her new powers.—
Alyssa Mercante,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2025
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Born in 1882 as the son of a former slave, African American stonemason Oliver Nestus Freeman helped build houses in Wilson to combat the housing shortage for soldiers returning from World War II.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Apple-polisher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apple-polisher. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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