as in fawning
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Recent Examples of sycophancy
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
The second is that chatbots, which mimic emotional intimacy and tend toward sycophancy, warp how children forge their selfhood and relationships.
—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
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
The second is that chatbots, which mimic emotional intimacy and tend toward sycophancy, warp how children forge their selfhood and relationships.
—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 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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This is an agiary, a Zoroastrian place of worship for India’s Parsi community, where priests in white robes stoke a sacred flame around the clock and recite ancient Avestan prayers that have survived three millennia.
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For generations, churches have served not only as houses of worship, but as gathering places where questions of justice, voting rights and public leadership are debated.
Noun
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Sometimes it has been connected with Catholic nationalism; at other times it has been promoted as the opposite — as an antidote to the idolatry of the state.
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Hyper-racial idolatry may be too competitive a field on the internet to cut through.
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 27 Jun. 2026.
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