: a person who is ingratiating or fawning
a suck-up to the teacher

Examples of suck-up in a Sentence

I'd like to give my boss a birthday present, but I don't want to look like a shameless suck-up
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Back in the dawn of the Trump era — just prior to his 2017 inauguration — the line of would-be suck-ups queuing up for face time with the president-elect included a man with a distinguished name. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2023 Office suck-ups, popularized by television characters like Dwight Schrute in The Office and Tom Wambsgans in Succession, typically take their cues from those in charge. Matthew Boyle, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2023 Still, gossip mongers and suck-ups won’t go away unless managers remove the incentives to such behavior, while rewarding positive actions like collaboration. Matthew Boyle, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2023 As a shameless suck-up with a remarkable ability to fail upward, Tom is on track to conquer the world. Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of suck-up was in 1970

Dictionary Entries Near suck-up

Cite this Entry

“Suck-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suck-up. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!