sycophantic

adjective

sy·​co·​phan·​tic ˌsi-kə-ˈfan-tik How to pronounce sycophantic (audio)
 also  ˌsī-
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a sycophant : fawning, obsequious
sycophantic compliments
sycophantically adverb

Examples of sycophantic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Already, and despite its shortfalls such as hallucinations – when chatbots make up inexistent facts, and sycophantic behavior – when the bot gives a particular answer to elicit the user’s approval, AI has been shown to outperform CEO’s on a range of tasks. Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025 Research conclusively shows that sycophantic AI behavior undermines trust and meaningful interaction. Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025 Their allies were sycophantic, and their natural opponents—especially the French—were submissive. Martin Sandbu, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017 Guillermo has gone from a sycophantic servant, dreaming of the day his master would turn him into a mythical creature of the night, to an out-and-proud vampire hunter who lives alongside his former lieges. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for sycophantic

Word History

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sycophantic was in 1676

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sycophantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sycophantic. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on sycophantic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!