suck (up to)

verb

Definition of suck (up to)next
as in to fawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for suck (up to)
  1. fawn
  2. kowtow
  3. coax
  4. honey
  5. butter up
  6. wheedle
  7. cajole
  8. idolize
Verb
  • In short clips that have reached upward of four million views and 600,000 likes on TikTok, users are fawning over the rising star’s good looks and passionate on-court personality.
    — Brendan Le, People.com, 8 Mar. 2025
  • As per usual, the NFL player was in the comment section fawning over the singer and tempting her with a good time.
    — Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of fawn
Verb
  • Under that system, countries acknowledged the cultural and political superiority of China and expressed deference to Chinese authority—including literally kowtowing before the Chinese emperor in order to trade with China.
    — Elizabeth Economy, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2017
  • This includes his daughter, Tal, who has a hard time dealing with her father’s refusal to kowtow to politicians.
    — Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2025
Definition of kowtow
Verb
  • As the ball tracked toward the hole, play-by-play and color announcers Shane Bacon and Doug Smith coaxed it into the hole.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Two previous deals aimed at ending the strike failed to coax enough guards back to end the crisis.
    — Michael Hill, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of coax
Verb
  • Those harmonies — simultaneously honeyed and gravelly, providing just enough support without overshadowing, yet so powerful and full of potential — echoes Whitten.
    — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 2 July 2024
  • Enjoy flavored nuts, such as those that are candied, glazed, or honied, in moderation.
    — Selene Yeager, Health, 24 Feb. 2024
Definition of honey
Verb
  • In contrast, Tai — who eventually becomes a powerful lawyer as an adult — often relies on buttering up her witnesses and using courtroom theatrics to get her point across.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Zelensky isn’t alone among prominent Ukrainians in trying to butter up Trump.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
Definition of butter up
Verb
  • And soon thereafter, the mirror image: Sparks switches from playing wheedling Jerry to playing upright Bram in a harrowing scene with Arnold.
    — Jesse Green, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Then Fleischmann, after attending a particularly high-spirited wedding, regained his confidence and wheedled an additional investment from his family.
    — David Remnick, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Definition of wheedle
Verb
  • Drunk girls traded compliments in line for the bathroom while staffers trying to prevent fire hazards cajoled people to dance in their seats instead of the aisles.
    — Katie Bain, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Hamas agreed to restart the releases after threats from President Donald Trump and Israeli officials, and cajoling from Arab leaders and intermediaries.
    — NBC News, NBC News, 15 Feb. 2025
Definition of cajole
Verb
  • That marked the culmination of a lifetime dream, Kawamura said, having grown up idolizing the game’s biggest stars.
    — Hanako Montgomery, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
  • In particular, Spencer idolized Asian American figure skaters such as Nathan Chen and Vincent Zhou, as well as Maxim Naumov, whose parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, were coaches at the Skating Club of Boston and also died in the plane crash.
    — Emilie Ikeda, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of idolize
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.

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suck (up to)
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Cite this Entry

“Suck (up to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suck%20%28up%20to%29. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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