as in to flatter
to praise too much
a candidate who knows that you have to massage the voters if you want to get elected
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of massage
His brother, Erick Garcia, 20, said his mom and aunt had gone to cook more tamales in hopes of selling more throughout the day.
Exhausted, Chris sat on a fold-out chair for a moment, letting out a sigh of relief and massaging his eyebrows with his fingers.
—
Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2025
By the late Nineties, flimsy strictures of economic decorum were being made even flimsier: massage the losses, underestimate the debts, off-load liabilities into subsidiaries, hide who owns them.
—Leigh Claire La Berge, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Just massage this lightweight formula into the scalp to reinvigorate follicles, prevent damage, and retain moisture.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 15 July 2025
So my classmates and I massaged black lime and wild mesquite into the bitter frisée.
—Karen Yuan, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for massage
Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2025
By the late Nineties, flimsy strictures of economic decorum were being made even flimsier: massage the losses, underestimate the debts, off-load liabilities into subsidiaries, hide who owns them.
—Leigh Claire La Berge, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Just massage this lightweight formula into the scalp to reinvigorate follicles, prevent damage, and retain moisture.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 15 July 2025
So my classmates and I massaged black lime and wild mesquite into the bitter frisée.
—Karen Yuan, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for massage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for massage
Verb
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This is open, flattering the pint-sized dimensions, and generous glazing fills the interior with daylight.—
Adam Williams
July 29,
New Atlas,
29 July 2025
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But for now this much seems clear: Ukraine will get more U.S. weapons, and NATO will get more robust American support, because a pair of world leaders were good students of how best to flatter the American president.—
Tom Nagorski,
Time,
18 July 2025
Verb
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The Marlins jumped out to a quick lead in the first inning Tuesday when Otto Lopez stroked a two-out single and scored on a throwing error after Ramírez’s infield single.—
Steve Gorten,
Miami Herald,
23 July 2025
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Nineteen seconds later, her pass from below the basket went out to Collier, who calmly stroked another trey for a 12-point cushion.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
15 July 2025
Verb
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Wiegman generally hates talking about individual players, but goes out of her way to praise Bronze’s competitive spirit.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
26 July 2025
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Joel’s political statement was praised by his ex-wife, model Christie Brinkley, in an Instagram post at the time.—
Emlyn Travis Published,
EW.com,
25 July 2025
Verb
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Some buttering up in your prompt can likely produce this.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
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Enter Rutte, who knew Trump from his time as Prime Minister, and who got to work buttering up the American president.—
Tom Nagorski,
Time,
18 July 2025
Verb
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Instead, coaches are gently correcting or congratulating Ewers.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
30 July 2025
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Council President Joe LaCava congratulated McClurg on her retirement from a 38-year career in public education, the last 16 years spent in the Del Mar district, where all nine schools are geographically in the city of San Diego.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 July 2025
Verb
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The first sign was bumps that quickly puffed up and took over her skin.—
Chloe Castleberry,
Flow Space,
23 July 2025
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Alan Rickman, with his deep, mellow, softly puffing voice, is immensely sympathetic as that most patient of suitors, Colonel Brandon.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
19 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Massage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/massage. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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