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
As noted above, the emphasis was on the states of evil, sycophancy, and hallucination.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Even as tutor modes are refined and improved, students have to actively select that mode and, for now, also have to play along, deftly providing context and guiding the chatbot away from worthless, low-level questions or sycophancy.
—Brian W. Stone, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
This sycophancy isn't accidental.
—ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2025
The most common way users interact with AI is through chatbots, which mimic natural human conversations and are designed to be agreeable and flattering, sometimes to the point of sycophancy.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
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Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Even as tutor modes are refined and improved, students have to actively select that mode and, for now, also have to play along, deftly providing context and guiding the chatbot away from worthless, low-level questions or sycophancy.
—Brian W. Stone, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
This sycophancy isn't accidental.
—ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2025
The most common way users interact with AI is through chatbots, which mimic natural human conversations and are designed to be agreeable and flattering, sometimes to the point of sycophancy.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 22 Aug. 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 17 Sep. 2025.
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