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
Clare Morell, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
Hitler surrounded himself with sycophants, had zero tolerance for dissent and demanded unwavering loyalty.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Nobody advertises for sycophants, but often recruiting and interview processes can favor candidates who are agreeable and whose thinking doesn’t conflict with the status quo.
—Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 13 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
These are guys who are clearly surrounded by sycophants and allergic to criticism.
—Clare Morell, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
Hitler surrounded himself with sycophants, had zero tolerance for dissent and demanded unwavering loyalty.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Nobody advertises for sycophants, but often recruiting and interview processes can favor candidates who are agreeable and whose thinking doesn’t conflict with the status quo.
—Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 13 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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Several months ago, the company had to roll back a change that made the bot into a sycophantic mess that would suck up to the user at every opportunity.—
Ryan Whitwam,
ArsTechnica,
8 Aug. 2025
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In one recent case revealing the perils of a sycophantic bot, a man who was having manic episodes said ChatGPT's affirmations had prevented him from seeking help.—
Emma Bowman,
NPR,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Images of toadies buttering up an emperor come to mind.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
11 July 2025
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Courtesy of Lucasfilm On an isolated farm at the outer reaches of a fascist empire, a mid-level government toady interrogates his victims.—
Jake Kleinman,
Wired News,
23 Apr. 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
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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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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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Players are asked to recruit their friends to fight the minions of the titular evil entity, the Deceiver.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
9 June 2025
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This summer has already given ample evidence of how poorly Trump and his minions understand California.—
Thomas Elias,
Mercury News,
18 July 2025
Noun
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Alonso tipped his cap while running the bases to acknowledge the fans chanting his name, while Mets came out of the dugout to congratulate him on breaking a 37-year-old team record.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
13 Aug. 2025
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Taylor Swift album announcement sparks fan buzz The first two videos – posted on Aug. 11 and 12 – have racked up 20 million views and 9 million views, respectively on X.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Nina gets free just in time, only to find Saxton and Jim battling a ballet of bullets with Sal’s men — a firefight that gets Saxton’s blunt-force henchman Billy (Evan Jones) shot through the eye.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
4 July 2025
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The wretched music alone is worth it, as is Victor Von Doom's henchman, who sounds like a little kid trying to impersonate Dracula.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
25 July 2025
Noun
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He and some Prodigy soldiers are sent to the Maginot crash site to look for survivors, but two of them are quickly picked off by a blood-sucking parasite.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
13 Aug. 2025
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Unbeknownst to them, that stomach issue was actually a parasite.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
9 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sycophant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sycophant. Accessed 23 Aug. 2025.
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