as in soft soap
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Dissimilar Words
as in sucking (up to)
to praise too much
a flunky who shamelessly butters up the boss
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of buttering up
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026
The preview for The Muppet Show reveals special guest Sabrina Carpenter buttering up Miss Piggy backstage.
—Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Verb
Ben spends the afternoon buttering up Ellie and praising her cake-icing skills, and even gives her the task of decorating the wedding cake.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026
The preview for The Muppet Show reveals special guest Sabrina Carpenter buttering up Miss Piggy backstage.
—Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttering up
Noun
-
Practical self-care items such as thick lotions, face masks and soft soaps that don’t irritate skin. Pragmatic.—
Ellen T. Meiser,
The Conversation,
5 Dec. 2025
-
People should wash any skin that comes into contact with the slurry with water and soft soap, before using a hand cream to avoid dryness and cracking.—
Lauren Penington,
The Denver Post,
2 Sep. 2024
Noun
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Everything is coated in a garlic butter salt that masks the mediocrity of the nuts.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Mornings start at the barn-style main restaurant, where the tight breakfast menu includes mushroom noodles, yak yogurt granola, and coddled eggs with cordyceps (a local edible fungi) alongside a small buffet spread of fresh bread, yak butter, jam, and tsampa (buckwheat flour) for porridge.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
More than 1,300 customers have awarded the sneakers a five-star rating, praising the durability and cloud-like cushioning in reviews.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
25 Apr. 2026
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Cue tech and political leaders praising the outgoing Cook, who'd presided over a more than 20-fold increase in market cap at the tech giant since taking over from the late Steve Jobs in 2011.—
Kai Nicol-Schwarz,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Watch an encounter full of sweet talk, gaslighting and tension here.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Don’t fall for compliments that don’t feel genuine, and don’t be afraid to confront whatever’s beneath someone’s sweet talk.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Not every type of kale needs massaging.—
Zoe Denenberg,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The best part is that it can be used on bare or painted nails—even just massaging your cuticles and nail beds can provide results.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
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According to Gaiani, drinking or using drugs before social situations is a major sign that your teen may be using alcohol to cope with fawning and to feel more comfortable or confident.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Attention around Simpson has since taken off, with people commending him for his kindness and generosity.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
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After the hearing, Gorman’s family released a statement commending the judge for detaining Medina.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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With hair bleached a garish blond and her saucer eyes rolling insolently at sensitive Philip (Leslie Howard) and his endearments, Bette Davis plays W. Somerset Maugham's caustic cockney waitress at full throttle and without an iota of warmth.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Mar. 2026
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Their friendship has even inspired fans to coin their names as a term of endearment.—
Grace Gavilanes,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Buttering up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttering%20up. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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