as in fawning
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Recent Examples of sycophancy
That April, OpenAI also rolled back an update to ChatGPT that the company said made the GPT-4o model overly flattering and agreeable, known as sycophancy.
—
Lauren Fichten,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
His sycophancy has left him disbarred and broke.
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John Avlon,
The Atlantic,
25 May 2026
That’s the kind of conflict that has already led to frequent debates over how best to tune models to be agreeable and non-toxic without slipping into outright sycophancy by being relentlessly positive.
—
ArsTechnica,
1 May 2026
One idea is to require AI companies to run and then publish sycophancy audits of their models – tests that show how well their products meet honesty benchmarks.
—
Cody Turner,
The Conversation,
1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
Lauren Fichten,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
His sycophancy has left him disbarred and broke.
—
John Avlon,
The Atlantic,
25 May 2026
That’s the kind of conflict that has already led to frequent debates over how best to tune models to be agreeable and non-toxic without slipping into outright sycophancy by being relentlessly positive.
—
ArsTechnica,
1 May 2026
One idea is to require AI companies to run and then publish sycophancy audits of their models – tests that show how well their products meet honesty benchmarks.
—
Cody Turner,
The Conversation,
1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sycophancy
Noun
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The fawning didn’t get him very far.
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According to Gaiani, drinking or using drugs before social situations is a major sign that your teen may be using alcohol to cope with fawning and to feel more comfortable or confident.
Noun
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But adoration of Messi does not lessen his appreciation of Ronaldo.
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Wong says her journey has been rooted in a fundamental adoration for the pure impact of cuisine and the need to never forget the flavors that carved her family's path to their future.
Noun
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Thousands gathered on Independence Mall Sunday evening for Gospel on Independence, filling the lawn with music, worship and anticipation before severe weather brought the event to an abrupt end.
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More than 140 family members and friends filled the 18th century Victorian house of worship’s wooden pews, iconic for featuring ornate animals carved into their ends.
Noun
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But this facial gallery closed with the Western Roman Empire and the rise of Christianity, which inherited a suspicion of idolatry from the Old Testament and Judaism.
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The usual claims of occult idolatry, the sensitivity of children’s virgin eyes, and the fear of nurturing serial killers were at the heart of the debates, which had some comparing Schwartz to Jeffrey Dahmer and were only further accelerated by the intense graphics of illustrator Stephen Gammell.
Noun
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As was the case with the white-and-green dress for her Pakistan tour, Elizabeth, in her fashion choices, sought not only to avoid giving offense but to offer symbolic ingratiation, and among the most fascinating garments on display are those representing diplomatic dressing.
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Each chapter discusses a specific sales element, which includes such topics as goal setting, prospecting, ingratiation and listening tactics, empathy and much more.
Cite this Entry
“Sycophancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sycophancy. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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