as in fawning
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sycophancy
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
Politeness and adapting to someone’s communication style are not the same as sycophancy.
—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
None of the companies directly commented on the Science study on Thursday but Anthropic and OpenAI pointed to their recent work to reduce sycophancy.
—Matt O'Brien, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
Politeness and adapting to someone’s communication style are not the same as sycophancy.
—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
None of the companies directly commented on the Science study on Thursday but Anthropic and OpenAI pointed to their recent work to reduce sycophancy.
—Matt O'Brien, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sycophancy
Noun
-
The fawning didn’t get him very far.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
-
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
-
After the meeting, Babbitt relished in the adoration of supporters who had waited nearly a decade to come to this point.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
-
New York Tendaberry, released in the fall of 1969, mostly consists of Nyro alone at the piano, delivering songs that eschewed and subverted most of the characteristics that had won her attention and adoration throughout the preceding decade.—
Sam Sodomsky,
Pitchfork,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
In its previous life, the building was home to the Manhattan Congregational Church, organized in the 1890s; architects Stoughton & Stoughton completed the house of worship in 1901.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
2 June 2026
-
Music performed in houses of worship was thought to be intended for the glory of God, not for the pleasure of the congregation — now often actually referred to as the audience.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Hyper-racial idolatry may be too competitive a field on the internet to cut through.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
-
The two groups displayed a large balloon near the mall of a Trump-like golden calf, a biblical reference to idolatry.—
Tiffany Stanley,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
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.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
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 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
