as in fawning
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Recent Examples of sycophancy
This effect is exacerbated by sycophancy and can spark groupthink, ignoring dissent or mistaking silence for support.
—
Nuala Walsh, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Russian dissidents – most now either in jail or abroad – see Putin as a dictator who has built a brittle system of personal rule reliant on sycophancy and corruption that is leading Russia towards decline and turmoil.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
Carro's paper suggests that obvious sycophancy significantly reduces user trust.
—ArsTechnica, 21 Apr. 2025
Hierarchies breed a hell of a lot of sycophancy and resentment, and this one is no different.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
Nuala Walsh, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Russian dissidents – most now either in jail or abroad – see Putin as a dictator who has built a brittle system of personal rule reliant on sycophancy and corruption that is leading Russia towards decline and turmoil.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
Carro's paper suggests that obvious sycophancy significantly reduces user trust.
—ArsTechnica, 21 Apr. 2025
Hierarchies breed a hell of a lot of sycophancy and resentment, and this one is no different.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sycophancy
Noun
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Were any parts of her personality driven in direct opposition or in adoration of her two older sisters?—
Brooke Lea Foster,
People.com,
30 June 2025
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There’s not this salivation for love, adoration— From your audiences.—
Danyel Smith,
Rolling Stone,
18 June 2025
Noun
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The church is in the process of raising $75,000 to attain its own permanent space of worship and build newer generations’ faith, according to O’Connor.—
Olivia Cyrus
July 20,
Sacbee.com,
20 July 2025
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Many houses of worship host events encouraging members to vote — Souls to the Polls is an important event in many Black churches, for example — and some churches are polling places themselves.—
Lauren Costantino
Updated July 20,
Miami Herald,
20 July 2025
Noun
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The Muhammad Ali Center previously told The Courier Journal the cultural center doesn't have a statue of Ali out of respect for his Islamic faith, which forbids idolatry.—
Killian Baarlaer,
The Courier-Journal,
2 July 2025
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As religions developed and faiths were defined in Biblical texts and commentaries, teachings began to distinguish between veneration and idolatry.—
Judy Knotts,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sycophancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sycophancy. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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