sycophantic

adjective

sy·​co·​phan·​tic ˌsi-kə-ˈfan-tik How to pronounce sycophantic (audio)
also ˌsī-
Synonyms of sycophantic
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a sycophant : fawning, obsequious
sycophantic compliments
sycophantically adverb

Examples of sycophantic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Another 800 participants talked with either a sycophantic or non-sycophantic AI model about a real conflict in their own lives before being asked to write a letter to the other person involved in their conflict. Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026 Participants in the new study, which was published today in Science, preferred the sycophantic AI models to other models that gave it to them straight, even when the flatterers gave participants bad advice. Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026 Hammed Animashaun was on standby as a sycophantic deputy PM, David Lammy. Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 22 Mar. 2026 In other words, a sycophantic lawyer is a bad lawyer. Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 18 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sycophantic

Word History

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sycophantic was in 1676

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Cite this Entry

“Sycophantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sycophantic. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.

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