sycophant
17
9.3
- noun
- /ˈsɪkəˌfænt/
- Offensive
:
adulador
- The manager was surrounded by sycophants who constantly praised his every decision.
- surrounded by sycophants
- sycophants to the president
I think the MAGA sycophants are not very smart.
- I think the MAGA sycophants are not very smart.
- The narcissistic provocateur either surrounds themselves with sycophants and acolytes like kiss people who kiss up to them.
- Like I, I was saying like, oh, cha, GPT is like this sycophant, this yes man that just says whatever you want to hear, like monkey poor curls.
- A cover up aided by sycophant media personalities like MSNB CS Joe Scarborough.
Examples
-
To a twentieth-century Laborite, journals such as the London Times were sycophants not of the public but of corporate wealth.
Academic text (1995) -
He's been hanging out with sycophants for far too long, and it bit him in the arse.
Blog text (3) -
It's like sycophant city with these guys.
-
Stone, you were more than a sycophant to me.
-
At the risk of being called a sycophant, I thought it was one hell of a read.
Academic text (2007) -
I keep track of the political sycophants around my opponents, and I happen to know that you are one of them.
-
Don't be a sycophant, but show authentic appreciation.
-
Instead of begging favors from the government, they had become sycophants of the public.
Academic text (1995) -
All of his handlers and sycophants are going to urge him to get tough.
Blog text (16) -
And this belief is constantly reinforced by the sycophants who surround him in his bubble.
Blog text (14)
Synonyms
20
8.4
A person who says nice things to a powerful person to get something for themselves
8
9.0
A person who flatters and obeys someone in power to gain favor
5
7.7
A person who praises someone in power to get an advantage
3
4.2
A person who gives fake praise to get someone's favor
3
9.9
A person who flatters someone in charge to get favors
1
9.9
A person who praises someone in power to get benefits
1
8.3
A person who praises someone in charge too much to gain favor
A person who praises someone in power to get advantages
A person who praises a boss to get a favor
A person who flatters people in charge to gain favor
A person who praises someone too much to get something in return
A person who behaves very humbly to please others or avoid trouble
How Obsequious
- Offensive
17
9.3
- Offensive
8
9.0
- Offensive
1
8.3
- Offensive
3
4.2
Surface Forms
Etymology
Sycophant comes from old Greek parts syko ('fig') and phant ('to show'), and it first meant someone who told on people for stealing figs, like an informer. That's why today a sycophant is a person who flatters important people to get an advantage.