as in flunkey
a person who flatters another in order to get ahead
be careful not to mistake sycophants for true friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sycophant
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
He’s surrounded mostly by true believers and sycophants and able to engage somewhat freely in various forms of government dismantling and corruption.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 22 July 2025
These are guys who are clearly surrounded by sycophants and allergic to criticism.
—Clare Morell, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
The administration may be populated with sycophants and true believers, but Justice Department attorneys and Homeland Security officials are not stupid.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sycophant
Adjective
This has become a notable concern about how AI as a sycophant is potentially impacting society at large, which could have alarming mental health consequences on a population-level basis further down the road (see my analysis at the link here).
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
He’s surrounded mostly by true believers and sycophants and able to engage somewhat freely in various forms of government dismantling and corruption.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 22 July 2025
These are guys who are clearly surrounded by sycophants and allergic to criticism.
—Clare Morell, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
The administration may be populated with sycophants and true believers, but Justice Department attorneys and Homeland Security officials are not stupid.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sycophant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sycophant
Adjective
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Chris Chambers’ older brother Eyeball, one of Ace’s sycophantic followers, was played by Bradley Gregg.—
Sezin Devi Koehler September 1,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
-
This process is what has created sycophantic AI models, such as variations of GPT-4o, over the past year.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In the past, Newsom denounced judges who ruled against them as toadies of the firearms industry.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Naturally his reliable Republican toadies lined up to support him.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Such as holding court, choosing your sobriquet, and naming imbecilic lickspittles to our Kingsguard.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
7 July 2024
-
What happened to the idea that art and culture should be a contemptuous refuge from the mainstream, as opposed to this lickspittle, running dog accommodation to the mainstream?—
Billboard Staff,
Billboard,
3 June 2022
Noun
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Matthew eventually one-ups the request by losing his boxers as well and going full Winnie the Pooh, which earns him the respect of his fellow suck-ups.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
23 Aug. 2025
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But the joke’s on us — Republican senators, who are the only players with any real power to stop them, have simply decided not to, all so that President Camacho can play at government with his favorite suck-ups.—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Vex can use that energy to empower herself, or channel it to conjure deadly minions that fight alongside her.—
Griff Griffin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Later in the season, Ellie — now trying to hunt down Abby to deliver the same fate to her — brutally kills Nora, one of Abby's minions.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
This is the same lineup, full of younger and mostly unproven players, that has kept the Rangers on the fringe of the wild card spot, a point of irritation among fans.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Sep. 2025
-
One of her biggest, most vocal fans, Ariana Grande, presented the pop legend with the honor.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The citizens of Venezuela don't deserve to live under the tyrannical rule of Maduro or any of his henchmen!—
Dan Gooding
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
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But things just continue to go wrong for both the brains of the operation (Al Pacino) and his henchman (John Cazale).—
Kevin Jacobsen,
EW.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
There, all animals undergo full medical evaluations, including testing for diseases, worms, and parasites.—
Meg Dunn,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
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The medication used to treat some parasites has also been used to treat COVID-19.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sycophant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sycophant. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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