as in to honey
to praise too much
a flunky who shamelessly butters up the boss
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Recent Examples of butter up
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
Warming the milk and butter up first helps to avoid any milk fat white spots on top of your decadent chocolate cake.
—Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2024
Griffin isn’t the only big-name boss to try and butter up workers by putting on an unforgettable party.
—Byorianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2023
Ripple’s ongoing efforts to butter up the banking and corporate world have made the company, and by extension XRP, an object of hostility and derision among the rest of the crypto world.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune Crypto, 24 Mar. 2023
Next, coat the bottom of a casserole dish with butter, place the potatoes in, and pat more butter up on top.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE.com, 23 Nov. 2021
At the center: six cinnamon rolls that a candidate alleged had been used to butter up voters during the tight mayoral race in October.
—María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2023
Steele storms out, but Sarah stays behind to butter up the AG.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 21 Nov. 2022
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
Warming the milk and butter up first helps to avoid any milk fat white spots on top of your decadent chocolate cake.
—Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2024
Griffin isn’t the only big-name boss to try and butter up workers by putting on an unforgettable party.
—Byorianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2023
Ripple’s ongoing efforts to butter up the banking and corporate world have made the company, and by extension XRP, an object of hostility and derision among the rest of the crypto world.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune Crypto, 24 Mar. 2023
Next, coat the bottom of a casserole dish with butter, place the potatoes in, and pat more butter up on top.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE.com, 23 Nov. 2021
At the center: six cinnamon rolls that a candidate alleged had been used to butter up voters during the tight mayoral race in October.
—María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2023
Steele storms out, but Sarah stays behind to butter up the AG.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 21 Nov. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for butter up
Verb
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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
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Enjoy flavored nuts, such as those that are candied, glazed, or honied, in moderation.—
Selene Yeager,
Health,
24 Feb. 2024
Verb
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However, many of his followers went to the comments to ask about his new bundle of joy and congratulate him.—
Kayla Grant,
People.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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The singer pushed his chair back, watched in awe, and then leaped up from his seat to congratulate Hill up close.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Golfers use these metal clubs for stroking the ball into the hole.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2025
-
Winner: Photoshop Text, Shapes, Drawing, and 3D Photoshop’s text capabilities are deep, with options like glow, stroking, and even glyph editing (changing parts of characters).—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Step 2: Cleaning and Exfoliation A soothing oil blend of lavender, cypress, cedar wood, and rosemary was massaged on to the scalp to ease the senses and open up the follicles.—
Bianca Salonga,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
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Apply the product or device in a circular motion, massaging gently for about five minutes.—
Nancy LeBrun,
Verywell Health,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The reality star also praises Buteau for showcasing a wedding between a Black trans woman and a straight, cisgender white man on a major streaming platform like Netflix.—
Dana Rose Falcone,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Greene deflected and bashed the Biden administration while praising the Trump administration before circling back to the purpose of the news conference.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Get The Recipe Cheeseburger Sliders Bring out the tray of sliders and the entire party will applaud.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
22 Mar. 2025
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Hundreds of social media users have commented on TikTok to applaud Wheels and praise Santos for giving him a second chance at life.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Pascal commended Kaitlyn Dever, who joined Season 2 as the character Abby.—
Abigail Lee,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2025
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A number of fans and celebrity supporters commended her for speaking out about her faith and promoting prayer.—
Ashley Hume,
Fox News,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Its tummy control jeans, comfy bras, and leggings that never fail to flatter the waist and hips.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
3 Mar. 2025
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Even the minor surprise of a movie like The Artist winning Best Picture made sense in retrospect: Hollywood has always loved flattering itself, and a movie riffing on its storied silent past was bound to find love among Academy members.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
TIME,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Butter up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butter%20up. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
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