buttered up

verb

past tense of butter up
as in congratulated
to praise too much a flunky who shamelessly butters up the boss

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttered up
  1. congratulated
  2. applauded
  3. praised
  4. commended
  5. massaged
  6. stroked
  7. puffed
  8. flattered
Verb
  • Trump held calls with Zelenskyy and Putin over the weekend as both leaders congratulated the president on the 250th anniversary of the United States' independence.
    — Elise Spenner, ABC News, 8 July 2026
  • Her Instagram followers congratulated her on the memorable catch.
    — Lisa Gutierrez July 7, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026
Definition of congratulated
Verb
  • Ramos and other tribal leaders applauded that step and this year, Ramos is advancing a bill to issue a similar apology on behalf of the Legislature.
    — Andrew Graham July 8, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
  • The series has been applauded for its mix of drama, comedy and strangeness in its portrait of a woman coming to terms to what seems like an impossible dilemma.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of applauded
Verb
  • Councilman Jimmy Inman also praised the late man in an emotional Facebook post.
    — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
  • McMahon praised Wagner for complying with federal guidelines in a DOE press release.
    — Elijah Polance, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
Definition of praised
Verb
  • Donning a loud orange and curly wig, Tel commended KC for its hospitality as a host city.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026
  • As free press advocates rail against the privacy act lawsuit, Fox News commended the stay in a statement shared with The Guardian.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 June 2026
Definition of commended
Verb
  • Deirdre massaged my limbs while the cups went to work on my perpetually achy upper back.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
  • It's massaged into place before the incision is then stitched up.
    — Hedy Phillips, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
Definition of massaged
Verb
  • But Argentina’s talisman stroked it wide of the net.
    — David Hickey, NBC news, 23 June 2026
  • Mihyia Davis stroked the next pitch off Slimp’s glove in left for a double and Williams moved to third.
    — Tim Willert, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Definition of stroked
Verb
  • Featuring a delicate lace trim, a V-neckline, buttons up the front, and lightly puffed sleeves, this top is beyond gorgeous.
    — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
  • Meanwhile in Boston, England huffed and puffed but could not blow Ghana away.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Definition of puffed
Verb
  • Marcus Rashford was quite wasteful against Panama and Bukayo Saka still doesn’t look fit enough after injury, while Noni Madueke has flattered to deceive.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 1 July 2026
  • Kim and North's nude wear flattered both mom and daughter, while the then-2-year-old's ever-expanding combat-boot collection continued to set up her siblings (and us) for intense shoe envy.
    — Lydia Price, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
Definition of flattered
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

butter
buttered up
butterfingered
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Cite this Entry

“Buttered up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttered%20up. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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