sycophancy

noun

sy·​co·​phan·​cy ˈsi-kə-fən(t)-sē How to pronounce sycophancy (audio)
 also  ˈsī-,
-ˌfan(t)-
: obsequious flattery
also : the character or behavior of a sycophant

Examples of sycophancy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Meanwhile, competitors like Meta, Anthropic, OpenAI, and Microsoft continue to push more aggressively into the AI space, offering AI assistants (that admittedly still make things up and suffer from other issues, such as sycophancy). ArsTechnica, 9 June 2025 This effect is exacerbated by sycophancy and can spark groupthink, ignoring dissent or mistaking silence for support. Nuala Walsh, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025 Russian dissidents – most now either in jail or abroad – see Putin as a dictator who has built a brittle system of personal rule reliant on sycophancy and corruption that is leading Russia towards decline and turmoil. Reuters, CNN Money, 4 May 2025 Carro's paper suggests that obvious sycophancy significantly reduces user trust. ArsTechnica, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sycophancy

Word History

Etymology

sycophan(t) + -cy, after Latin sȳcophantia, borrowed from Greek sȳkophantía, from sȳkophántēs + -ia -ia entry 1

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sycophancy was in 1637

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Cite this Entry

“Sycophancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sycophancy. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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