as in to fuss
to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior
the kind of guy who truckles to anyone who might present a lucrative opportunity
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Recent Examples of truckle
Unless Trump’s art of the deal is all about truckling to Putin.
—
Maureen Dowd, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
During the campaign, most of Trump’s fallen rivals blasted him in exceptional terms—before truckling to support him against Hillary Clinton.
—James Fallows, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2017
Garbarino enjoyed his time with the Southern river rats and mountain folk, and their refusal to truckle to authority delights him to this day.
—David Samuels, Town & Country, 18 Oct. 2013
Maureen Dowd, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
During the campaign, most of Trump’s fallen rivals blasted him in exceptional terms—before truckling to support him against Hillary Clinton.
—James Fallows, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2017
Garbarino enjoyed his time with the Southern river rats and mountain folk, and their refusal to truckle to authority delights him to this day.
—David Samuels, Town & Country, 18 Oct. 2013
Recent Examples of Synonyms for truckle
Verb
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With five blades sandwiched between two moisturizing bars, this razor speeds up the entire process (no fussing around with shaving cream), nourishing dry skin and making nicks a rare occurrence.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Others might tell you that hosting an awards show is a thankless gig, but Bargatze doesn’t seem fussed.—
Lacey Rose,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Though South Korea’s then President Park Geun-hye halted operations in response to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test, the new statement explicitly absolves Pyongyang of any responsibility, and has been framed by conservatives as kowtowing to the Kim regime.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
17 Sep. 2025
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Disney was also forced to kowtow to Trump to the tune of $15 million back in December.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But while almost every facet of TSITP is being fawned over in Reddit threads, Instagram posts, and viral TikTok videos (the soundtrack!—
Olivia Petter,
Vogue,
16 Sep. 2025
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Social media, then, too, was flooded with morally bankrupt leftists lauding the killing and fawning over the killer.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Empire was a sinister, one-note shadow: faceless Storm Troopers, toadying fascistic generals, a cackling emperor, and of course Darth Vader, an enigmatic demon masked and cloaked in black.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
25 Apr. 2025
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The only other psychological need that rivals his thirst for toadying is the pursuit of .—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The Knott’s culinary and bakery teams have created a feast for our Instagram feeds that will make our followers drool and want to head into the fog during the 52nd installment of Scary Farm.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
15 Sep. 2025
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Thank you to this show for giving us so many things to drool over every season.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Those who delay this fate the longest are bootlicking mediocrities — the survival of the sycophants.—
Michael Gerson,
Anchorage Daily News,
18 Mar. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Truckle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/truckle. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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