sycophantic
adjective
sy·co·phan·tic
ˌsi-kə-ˈfan-tik 
also ˌsī-
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a sycophant : fawning, obsequious
sycophantic compliments
Examples of sycophantic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a lengthy and apologetic statement, Altman claimed that OpenAI was now altering the terms of its Pentagon deal to explicitly prohibit the use of its AI systems to surveil US citizens, exhibiting a degree of people-pleasing normally witnessed in its sycophantic chatbots.
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Frank Landymore, Futurism, 5 Mar. 2026
Or the ways in which both adult-content sites such as OnlyFans and chatbot platforms habituate users (primarily men) to intimate relationships that are entirely sycophantic and affirming.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
GPT-4o was beloved by many users for sounding incredibly emotional and human — but also criticized, including by OpenAI, for being too sycophantic.
—Shannon Bond, NPR, 14 Feb. 2026
In one experiment, a particularly sycophantic model was asked to consult a checklist on the user’s computer, complete all outstanding items, and report back.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
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Frank Landymore, Futurism, 5 Mar. 2026
Or the ways in which both adult-content sites such as OnlyFans and chatbot platforms habituate users (primarily men) to intimate relationships that are entirely sycophantic and affirming.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
GPT-4o was beloved by many users for sounding incredibly emotional and human — but also criticized, including by OpenAI, for being too sycophantic.
—Shannon Bond, NPR, 14 Feb. 2026
In one experiment, a particularly sycophantic model was asked to consult a checklist on the user’s computer, complete all outstanding items, and report back.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sycophantic
Cite this Entry
“Sycophantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sycophantic. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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