sycophants

noun

plural of sycophant
as in toadies
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

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 sycophants And as Netanyahu’s coalitions hardened Schleien’s programs became edgier, skewering Netanyahu sycophants in the Likud Party, anti-élitist demagogues, cultic settlers, and rabbinic mandarins. — Bernard Avishai, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2026 Ditto his despicable aides and Cabinet members, his unprincipled sycophants and suck-ups. — Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 9 June 2026 Trump’s worried sycophants probably know that the details of an eventual agreement likely do not matter very much at this point. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 25 May 2026 Who wants to stand with him, other than the sycophants in his Cabinet and party? — Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 15 May 2026 Republicans in Congress have become spineless sycophants to a president who only sees the beauty of this country in dollar signs. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026 Will any other sycophants in his cult get the message? — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026 Eager sycophants run behind him to carry out his directives and repeat his absurdities. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026 Laws mean nothing to Trump or his administration of sycophants. — Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sycophants
  1. toadies
  2. minions
  3. bootlickers
  4. lickspittles
  5. fans
  6. henchmen
  7. parasites
  8. flunkies
Noun
  • Rarely has a president been surrounded by such an array of toadies and lickspittles, operating beyond their competence in an atmosphere of organizational chaos.
    — Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Like the most treacherous toadies from literature — Iago, Wormtongue, Tywin Lannister — Miller managed to shove aside rivals to latch onto his master’s ear and guide him toward more evil.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Definition of toadies
Noun
  • Just as Wolverine is surrounded, he’s saved by Mystique, who’s shape-shifted herself into one of Trask’s minions.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
  • One of Danhausen’s minions took out Mysterio with a flipping dive on the outside.
    — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of minions
Noun
  • The result of this dynamic tension of bootlickers, according to Bernhard’s narrator, is the perpetual elevation and official anointment of mediocrity.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
  • These are just some of the most prominent, powerful bootlickers stumbling right now on their own deceit and desperation.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Definition of bootlickers
Noun
  • Rarely has a president been surrounded by such an array of toadies and lickspittles, operating beyond their competence in an atmosphere of organizational chaos.
    — Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Firmly in control of the nation’s massive federal apparatus, MAGA and its Republican lickspittles in Congress have thrived on chaos.
    — Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
Definition of lickspittles
Noun
  • From sneak peeks of new Disney movies and shows to first looks at new experiences and products, D23 is the place where news is made for fans of Disney's theme parks, characters and more.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • General manager Ross Atkins, hours after the deadline, apologized to fans for the disappointment on the heels of a World Series appearance.
    — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of fans
Noun
  • The psychedelic sequence that follows, punctuated by three European henchmen tailing the girls in a black SUV, is funny enough.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2026
  • And so does Jesse — particularly the latest installment, which sees the iconic henchmen find themselves as accidental stars in 1920s Hollywood.
    — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
Definition of henchmen
Noun
  • The parasites have performed well under lab conditions but transitions to practical application must be handled with extreme care.
    — Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Grooming can help remove parasites, improve hygiene and reinforce social bonds.
    — Cyril Grueter, Scientific American, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of parasites
Noun
  • Yasmin, Tender’s briefly installed head of communications, is the first of Whitney’s flunkies to defect.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
  • For instance, Bolsonaro’s flunkies penetrated the government agency that handled film distribution.
    — Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
Definition of flunkies

Browse Nearby Words

sycophantically
sycophants
syllabi
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Cite this Entry

“Sycophants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sycophants. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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