SUCKING (UP) Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

sucking (up)

verb

Definition of sucking (up)

present participle of suck (up)

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in soaking (up)

to take in (something liquid) through small openings these lilacs sucked up all the water I added to the vase yesterday

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sucking (up)

Verb

Similar to Egypt after its collapse earlier in the week, Switzerland exited fussing about the officiating.

— Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 12 July 2026
Yes, teaching by example is often a better way of handling a challenge than fussing about it.

— Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 17 June 2026

Definition of fussing

Verb

Public health officials have cautioned for years that older adults are drinking more, and more often.

— Paula Span, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
This week’s newsletter looks at why people are drinking less alcohol, how the world judges America and how many people use chatbots like a friend.

— Scott Clement, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of drinking

Verb

Stuff like Caitlin Clark getting mugged with no foul being called, or Sophie Cunningham pointing at some obnoxious player, or ESPN drooling over a coach wearing a pro-trans shirt.

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Video released by the Milwaukie Police Department shows Descamps sprawled in a hospital bed, his body limp, moaning and drooling, while medical staff stood nearby.

— Brian Mann, NPR, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of drooling

Verb

The second piece is a shock-absorbing landing gear – 38 friction disks that soak up the force of impact so the drone doesn't bounce.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026
Parents may feel uncomfortable with how much technology their children are absorbing, but feel the need to trust the teachers.

— Perry Rettig, AJC.com, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of absorbing

Verb

Bi is at work on a black gown with a veil, which Christian worries is taking up too much time.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
Engineers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) are developing a new type of heatsink that could help electronics manage short bursts of intense heat while taking up significantly less space and weight.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of taking up

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

sucking in

sucking (up)

sucking (up to)

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“Sucking (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sucking%20%28up%29. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of sucking (up)

verb

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