sycophancy
noun
sy·co·phan·cy
ˈsi-kə-fən(t)-sē 
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
Rival OpenAI has also faced problems with ChatGPT displaying sycophancy.
—
PC Magazine, 20 Nov. 2025
The causal claim here is that the AI feature of sycophancy reduces a user’s desire to repair conflict.
—Thomas H. Davenport, The Conversation, 12 Nov. 2025
But critics and former employees who spoke with CNN say the AI company has long known of the dangers of the tool’s tendency toward sycophancy – repeatedly reinforcing and encouraging any kind of input – particularly for users who are distressed or mentally ill.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
The company had also strengthened ChatGPT’s mental health guardrails at various points after Adam's death in April, especially after GPT-4o faced scrutiny over its excessive sycophancy.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
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PC Magazine, 20 Nov. 2025
The causal claim here is that the AI feature of sycophancy reduces a user’s desire to repair conflict.
—Thomas H. Davenport, The Conversation, 12 Nov. 2025
But critics and former employees who spoke with CNN say the AI company has long known of the dangers of the tool’s tendency toward sycophancy – repeatedly reinforcing and encouraging any kind of input – particularly for users who are distressed or mentally ill.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
The company had also strengthened ChatGPT’s mental health guardrails at various points after Adam's death in April, especially after GPT-4o faced scrutiny over its excessive sycophancy.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
Cite this Entry
“Sycophancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sycophancy. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.
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