toady 1 of 2

toady

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun toady differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of toady are leech, parasite, sponge, and sycophant. While all these words mean "a usually obsequious flatterer or self-seeker," toady emphasizes the servility and snobbery of the self-seeker.

cultivated leaders of society and became their toady

Where would leech be a reasonable alternative to toady?

The meanings of leech and toady largely overlap; however, leech stresses persistence in clinging to or bleeding another for one's own advantage.

a leech living off his family and friends

When could parasite be used to replace toady?

The synonyms parasite and toady are sometimes interchangeable, but parasite applies to one who clings to a person of wealth, power, or influence or is useless to society.

a jet-setter with an entourage of parasites

In what contexts can sponge take the place of toady?

While the synonyms sponge and toady are close in meaning, sponge stresses the parasitic laziness, dependence, and opportunism of the cadger.

a shiftless sponge, always looking for a handout

When is sycophant a more appropriate choice than toady?

The words sycophant and toady are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sycophant adds to this a strong suggestion of fawning, flattery, or adulation.

a powerful prince surrounded by sycophants

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 toady
Noun
As of this writing, tens of thousands of Americans in government roles have already been fired by Elon’s tech toadies. Kara Swisher, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2025 But at the end of the Cold War, state sponsors and their toadies lost ground. Audrey Kurth Cronin, Foreign Affairs, 21 Dec. 2011
Verb
But without Logan’s presence, Tom’s penchant for toadying and betrayal has nowhere to play off. Get our free weekly newsletter Sign up for CNN Opinion’s newsletter. Gene Seymour, CNN, 12 Apr. 2023 Fox News has long been accused of peddling Trump’s falsehoods and toadying up to the former president. Tori Otten, The New Republic, 27 Feb. 2023 See All Example Sentences for toady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toady
Verb
  • Helen bending at her wide waist, fussing again with the shoe, a cream leather high-top, cursing quietly under her breath, hair falling into her face.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
  • As a storyteller, Tyagi isn’t too fussed about making his plot persuasive — the ease with which Nair and his co-counsel Dilreet Gill, played by Ananya Panday, manage to uncover evidence defies logic.
    Anupama Chopra, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • 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
Verb
  • That was part of a broader DeSantis attack against the House for kowtowing to liberal trial lawyers.
    Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2025
  • On one side is a Senate GOP almost entirely representing lower-cost states that is tired of kowtowing to the House; on the other side is a handful of House members whose electoral wins gave Republicans the majority, and the ability to even write a party-line tax bill.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • 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
Verb
  • But Congress’ fawning compliance is not the most alarming development.
    Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 2 July 2025
  • Throughout the footage, Leah, from Fort Worth, Texas, can be seen fussing Lunch Box and fawning over her sweet foster pup.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • Yanking the rug out from under thousands of foreigners who often risked life and limb to find a safe haven in America is an unconscionable act of heartless, anti-humanitarian gall on the part of Donald Trump and his minions.
    DP Opinion, Denver Post, 9 June 2025
  • Her niftiest fight sequence looks like abstract art: a stark black-and-white aerial pan of her shadow battling minions down a hallway.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • The signs of a dog that is overheating include unusually excess panting and rapid breathing, drooling, lethargy or disorientation, and if their gums are bright red.
    Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 6 July 2025
  • Panting, drooling, rapid heart rate and pale gums also point to the condition, and the dog may position its body in a downward-facing pose.
    Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • Malaparte, by then, was making his name as one of Mussolini’s highbrow henchmen.
    Thomas Meaney, New Yorker, 2 July 2025
  • The mosasaur has henchman spinosaurs – a nice touch – while a titanosaurus couple shares a loving moment (which gets interrupted by some pesky humans).
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 2 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Toady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toady. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on toady

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!