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Glite Dictionary
sycophantically

sycophantically

8.8
In a way that gives too much praise to someone important to get their favor
  • adverb
  • /ˌsɪkəˈfæntɪkli/
  • Offensive
translation icon : servilmente
  • I choose to gush sycophantically.

Examples

  • He agreed sycophantically with the committee's decisions, eager to secure their approval.

  • Well, I just resent being bribed to gush sycophantically about a star.

    How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008)

  • The assistant spoke sycophantically to the manager, hoping to win a promotion.

  • During the meeting, she sycophantically praised every suggestion made by her boss.

Synonyms

obsequiously
vssycophantically
1 9.9

In a way that tries too hard to please someone

focuses on excessive flattery rather than eager obedience to authority
unctuously
vssycophantically
1 9.8

Speaks or acts in a too friendly way that does not seem honest

targets authority with clear flattery rather than slick oily charm
smarmily
vssycophantically
  • Informal
9.3

In a very polite but fake way to get someone to like you

aims specifically to please those in authority rather than just to seem polite
doggishly
vssycophantically
9.1

In a way that is too eager to please someone

is more strategic to gain favor rather than simple eager pleasing
cringingly
vssycophantically
  • Archaic
8.9

In a way that is too eager to please someone important

aims to gain favor from authority rather than merely causing discomfort

Antonyms

sincerely
152 1.0

In a way that shows true feelings without pretending

straightforwardly
5 3.9

In a clear, honest way without hiding anything

How Obsequious

servilely
8.8
sycophantically
  • Offensive
8.8
flatteringly
1 4.6

Surface Forms

sycophantically positive
sycophantlier comparative
sycophantliest superlative

Morphology

sycophantically = sycophantic (transparent) = sycophant + ic + ally

Formed regularly from the adjective 'sycophantic' with the adverbial suffix '-ally'; the meaning 'in a sycophantic manner' is directly predictable from the base.

Etymology

Sycophantically comes from the older word sycophant. One popular story says sycophant began from a Greek phrase meaning 'one who shows the fig', a strange insult that later came to mean someone who flatters to gain favor, so to act sycophantically is to praise someone in a false, eager way to get their help or approval.