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
S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2025
Those vibes were often dictated by the sycophants in Musk’s orbit.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2025
Triangle of Sadness parodied the wealthy class and their out-of-touch behaviors; The Menu gorged on monstrous culinary world personalities and the sycophants who feed them; and most recently, Blink Twice confronted the protective bubbles shielding powerful men from accountability.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Jan. 2025
Staffing the federal government with sycophants is not about ensuring loyalty to an agenda.
—Russell Muirhead, Foreign Affairs, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sycophant
Noun
Where American power is for sale to the biggest sycophants?
—S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2025
Those vibes were often dictated by the sycophants in Musk’s orbit.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2025
Triangle of Sadness parodied the wealthy class and their out-of-touch behaviors; The Menu gorged on monstrous culinary world personalities and the sycophants who feed them; and most recently, Blink Twice confronted the protective bubbles shielding powerful men from accountability.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Jan. 2025
Staffing the federal government with sycophants is not about ensuring loyalty to an agenda.
—Russell Muirhead, Foreign Affairs, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sycophant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sycophant
Adjective
-
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
Noun
-
The Cowboys found a toady to cede to Jerry Jones’ every demand.—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2025
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The high toady will be 61 degrees and the low will be 39 degrees.—
Elainie Barraza,
Orlando Sentinel,
12 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Of course, being a junior senator and attaching your name to legislation that has little chance of being enacted—none of those have bills passed—is very different from being Vice-President and chief lickspittle to Trump.—
John Cassidy,
The New Yorker,
22 July 2024
-
Such as holding court, choosing your sobriquet, and naming imbecilic lickspittles to our Kingsguard.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
7 July 2024
Noun
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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
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Sara Fischer, Dave Lawler Dec 23, 2024 - Politics & Policy Media's suck-up moment Fearing political retribution and strained by new business challenges, media companies that once covered President-elect Trump with skepticism — and in many cases, disdain — are reconsidering their approach.—
Sara Fischer,
Axios,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Could there be any truth to the fan theory that Greg was hiding on the boat when Tanya killed Quentin and his minions, then fatally conked herself in the head while escaping?—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
17 Feb. 2025
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In the closing moments of the penultimate episode, Silver is plotting with his minions aboard his yacht.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
This was the 21st home loss of the season for the Bulls, who have only won 10 games in front of their own fans this year.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2025
-
The feature includes interviews with Kinkade’s closest friends and family, his critics, and his fans.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Angel Doll, the henchman assigned to drive Reacher to the lot, is a talker.—
Chris Klimek,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2025
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That means Musk's henchmen are in a position to dig through a trove of data about every taxpayer in America.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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DeMille, a social media specialist with a background in marketing, has highlighted influencers using the Los Angeles wildfires to peddle detoxes, fear mongering about parasites, and making claims about supplements that sound different than the disclaimers on the product's websites.—
Jude Joffe-Block,
NPR,
20 Feb. 2025
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There are a variety of organisms that can cause pneumonia, including viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN,
19 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Sycophant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sycophant. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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