as in fawning
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Recent Examples of sycophancy
Some of the changes were designed to minimize sycophancy, based on concerns that validating whatever vulnerable people want the chatbot to say can harm their mental health.
—
Dave Collins, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2025
Second is sycophancy, where AI chatbots tend to reinforce users’ existing biases rather than challenge them, creating echo chambers that amplify certainty in one’s beliefs.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
Rival OpenAI has also faced problems with ChatGPT displaying sycophancy.
—PC Magazine, 20 Nov. 2025
But critics and former employees who spoke with CNN say the AI company has long known of the dangers of the tool’s tendency toward sycophancy – repeatedly reinforcing and encouraging any kind of input – particularly for users who are distressed or mentally ill.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
Dave Collins, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2025
Second is sycophancy, where AI chatbots tend to reinforce users’ existing biases rather than challenge them, creating echo chambers that amplify certainty in one’s beliefs.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
Rival OpenAI has also faced problems with ChatGPT displaying sycophancy.
—PC Magazine, 20 Nov. 2025
But critics and former employees who spoke with CNN say the AI company has long known of the dangers of the tool’s tendency toward sycophancy – repeatedly reinforcing and encouraging any kind of input – particularly for users who are distressed or mentally ill.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sycophancy
Noun
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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.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
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As fans became critics, as hate replaced adoration, Dent shut down, his coach at Centennial High, Joshua Giles, described to the Southern California News Group.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
6 Feb. 2026
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Steady drums, chants and adoration roll for 90 minutes.—
Theo Lloyd-Hughes,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Three region locations were among the 24 congregations statewide to receive grants through the nonprofit’s Sacred Places Indiana Fund to address capital needs at historic houses of worship.—
Amy Lavalley,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
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Teitz, said their yeshiva is the only Jewish house of worship in town, where forty roughly high-school age students attend.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But the Turkish big man is also representative of a more meaningful trend, which was on display again this week, even before the Nuggets visited Houston — a recent proliferation of Jokic idolatry throughout the sport.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
21 Nov. 2025
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In the Bible, Egypt occupies a central place, mentioned repeatedly as a land of refuge – notably for Joseph – but also as a nation of idolatry and as the cradle of slavery.—
Charles Vanthournout,
The Conversation,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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.—
Larry D. Urish,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sycophancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sycophancy. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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