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

Ignore the sycophancy, slurs, and slop, and there is very little—but still enough to make one wonder. —Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026

As mentioned at the start of this discussion, the usual assumptions are that either the user tells the AI to do so, or the AI opts to proceed in that direction due to being shaped by AI makers toward exercising sycophancy. —Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026

And this sycophancy can cause serious ramifications. —Arianna Huffington, Time, 14 Jan. 2026

But while sycophancy is a symptom of user-model interaction, communication bias runs deeper. —Adrian Kuenzler, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025

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

Rhymes for sycophancy

• necromancy
• chancy
• dancy
• fancy
• fiancee