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
Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025
Rewarding sycophants and punishing truth tellers, though, is one of the biggest mistakes leaders can make.
—Gautam Mukunda, Twin Cities, 27 July 2025
Haber worked on a study that revealed some of AI's dangers, showing how so many chat bots now are sycophants, trained to validate the user.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 10 July 2025
Increasingly isolated and surrounded by sycophants, Erdogan will likely stick to his modus operandi: responding to any challenge by reflexively wielding the state’s punitive authority.
—Henri J. Barkey, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sycophant
Noun
He's surrounded by sycophants who bend to his will, and expects the same from people, institutions and countries outside his immediate circle.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025
Rewarding sycophants and punishing truth tellers, though, is one of the biggest mistakes leaders can make.
—Gautam Mukunda, Twin Cities, 27 July 2025
Haber worked on a study that revealed some of AI's dangers, showing how so many chat bots now are sycophants, trained to validate the user.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 10 July 2025
Increasingly isolated and surrounded by sycophants, Erdogan will likely stick to his modus operandi: responding to any challenge by reflexively wielding the state’s punitive authority.
—Henri J. Barkey, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sycophant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sycophant
Adjective
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What becomes abundantly clear is that Toklas was far more than the silent sycophantic partner.—
Daphne Merkin,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
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By August, Ars reported on cases where ChatGPT's sycophantic behavior had validated users' false beliefs to the point of causing mental health crises, and news of the aforementioned suicide lawsuit hit not long after.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This draft meeting resembled a bully in the high school cafeteria seeking toadies — any veneer of scouting objectivity was shed.—
Michael Hurley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Sep. 2025
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In the past, Newsom denounced judges who ruled against them as toadies of the firearms industry.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Trump’s ego and his lickspittles’ desire to feed it, should have nothing to do with commemorating the founding.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
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California’s vulnerable House Republicans are a diverse gaggle that includes new blood and old-timers, a Trump antagonist and a Trump lickspittle.—
Michelle Cottle,
Mercury News,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Like many digital beings, Reps, as Replika’s avatars are known, are engineered to be agreeable, nonjudgmental, and zealously supportive—i.e., suck-ups.—
Patricia Marx,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
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Matthew eventually one-ups the request by losing his boxers as well and going full Winnie the Pooh, which earns him the respect of his fellow suck-ups.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Still, this has always been a very personal conflict between Yennefer and Vilgefortz, which is why Vilgefortz finally stops letting his minions do all the fighting and jumps through the portal himself.—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
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Others wore inflatable costumes, dressed as bumble bees, frogs, unicorns and a even minion.—
Vivian Jones,
Nashville Tennessean,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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There’s a Redwall vibe to the third installment, as fan-favorite rattkin Fern gets carried away on an impromptu adventure involving a chaos-goblin who holds a bounty tempting enough for all the ne’er-do-wells to try and collect on.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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In a video obtained by the Sun, Perry also hinted at their connection while rejecting another mid-concert proposal from a fan.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Farrell, by contrast, plays a brusque, dim henchman named Alec, who’s there mostly to look tough and briefly talk about Star Wars.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
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Besides being mugged by one of Iza’s henchmen, a brick was thrown through his window and his car was vandalized.—
Jesse Hyde,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Extreme temperatures, parasites, viruses, fungi, and bacteria are all common dangers.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
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While striped skunk is edible, Coalition Brewing warns against its strong odor, scavenger diet and susceptibility to parasites.—
Stuart Dyos,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sycophant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sycophant. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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