as in bootlicker
a person who flatters another in order to get ahead
be careful not to mistake sycophants for true friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sycophant
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Will any other sycophants in his cult get the message?
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Eager sycophants run behind him to carry out his directives and repeat his absurdities.
—
Letters To The Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
Laws mean nothing to Trump or his administration of sycophants.
—
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sycophant
Noun
Republicans in Congress have become spineless sycophants to a president who only sees the beauty of this country in dollar signs.
—
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Will any other sycophants in his cult get the message?
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Eager sycophants run behind him to carry out his directives and repeat his absurdities.
—
Letters To The Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
Laws mean nothing to Trump or his administration of sycophants.
—
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sycophant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sycophant
Noun
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The result of this dynamic tension of bootlickers, according to Bernhard’s narrator, is the perpetual elevation and official anointment of mediocrity.
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If all goes to hell and America devolves into a rank dictatorship, beware the bootlicker.
Adjective
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Like all other generative chatbots, its replies are sycophantic.
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In an interview with Mostly Human spotted by MacRumors, Craig Federighi said Apple’s new Siri won’t act all sycophantic like chatbots made by OpenAI, Google, and others.
Noun
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Under Homelander’s rule, spineless toadies like The Deep would be the only remaining followers.
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His embrace of Trump‘s endorsement and refusal to admit that Joe Biden legitimately won the 2020 presidential election expose him as a toady.
Noun
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Rarely has a president been surrounded by such an array of toadies and lickspittles, operating beyond their competence in an atmosphere of organizational chaos.
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Firmly in control of the nation’s massive federal apparatus, MAGA and its Republican lickspittles in Congress have thrived on chaos.
Noun
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Ditto his despicable aides and Cabinet members, his unprincipled sycophants and suck-ups.
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Or a suck-up move to the Trump administration and its ridiculous claims against the media?
Noun
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The world premiere on Sunday – in the presence of Illumination boss Chris Meledandri and director Pierre Coffin, who is also the origin of the minions’ unintelligible chatter – kicks off one of the biggest Annecy Film Festival’s yet.
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The two key attractions include the Bello Bay Cruise river rapids ride where yellow minions face off against purple minions and the Bello Bay Golf Cart Derby teacups ride.
Noun
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Some fans flew from Portugal to Miami to watch Ronaldo play in his 25th career World Cup match.
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One dog became the center of attention of Scottish fans who gathered in Boston for the World Cup.
Noun
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Now, Lilith must team up with Cinderella to fight biker trolls, outrun evil henchmen, and escape the Screaming Woods.
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Launched in early 1982, the original MOTU line-up saw He-Man and Skeletor joined by heroes Teela (at this point, the only female character), Man-at-Arms and Stratos; the morally ambiguous Zodac; and a couple of Skeletor's henchmen, Beast Man and Mer-Man.
Cite this Entry
“Sycophant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sycophant. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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