1
as in currying favor
to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior
a young lieutenant constantly sucking up to the commanding officer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sucking (up)
Verb
-
Emma looked around, confused at the adults fussing around him and too young, perhaps, to grasp the severity of the scene.—
Maeva Bambuck,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026 -
As the migrants boarded, a man hoisted one of the passengers in the air, a fussing 8-month-old baby whose face was flushed red from the heat.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
And while the Gen Xer is leaning on coffee to fuel his massive company turnaround effort—drinking around three times more than the average American pouring two to three cups a day—Gen Z is really who keeps him on his toes, advising him to constantly grow in his role.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Avoid regularly drinking beverages above 140 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent these risks.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Earlier Thursday, the Nets also waived veteran forward Haywood Highsmith, freeing another roster spot while absorbing additional dead cap.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Now, rather than invest in more powerful and more expensive technologies, some scientists are using an alternative technique called expansion microscopy, which inflates the subject using the same moisture-absorbing material found in diapers.—
Molly Herring,
Quanta Magazine,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But neither is drooling on your neighbor’s shoulder.—
Adam Cheung,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Feb. 2026
-
This indulgent treat already has fans drooling—and many Costco members have been running to their local bakeries to see if the Cookie Bar Cake is still in stock.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Recycle them and enjoy not having as much paper taking up space in your home!—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
22 Jan. 2026
-
With thoughtful compartments that keep everything organized without taking up much space, this travel accessory is one Shortsleeve never leaves behind.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Jan. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Sucking (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sucking%20%28up%29. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
