Sycophant: meaning, definitions and examples
๐
sycophant
[ หsษชkษfษnt ]
flattering behavior
A sycophant is a person who uses flattery to get what they want from influential people. They often praise others excessively and insincerely in order to gain favor or advantage.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| sycophant |
Used to describe someone who flatters powerful people for personal gain. Often has a negative connotation.
|
| flatterer |
Someone who compliments others, often excessively. Can be neutral or negative depending on the intent.
|
| toady |
Used for someone who behaves obsequiously to someone important. Carries a negative meaning.
|
| yes-man |
A person who agrees with everything their superior says, often to maintain favor. Also negative.
|
Examples of usage
- He was known as the office sycophant, always complimenting the boss to get ahead.
- The sycophant ingratiated himself with the celebrity in hopes of getting a role in the movie.
politics
In politics, a sycophant is someone who behaves obsequiously towards a powerful figure to gain advantage or favor. They tend to agree with everything the leader says and do not offer independent or critical thinking.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| sycophant |
Refers to someone who excessively flatters or praises someone for personal gain, often used in a negative context to suggest insincerity or manipulation.
|
| flunky |
Often a derogatory term for a person who performs menial tasks or runs errands for someone else, implying a lack of self-respect or independence.
|
| bootlicker |
Generally used in a derogatory manner to describe someone who is obsequiously attentive or fawning to those in authority to gain favor.
|
| courtier |
Historically and formally refers to someone who attends a royal court as a companion or adviser to the king or queen. More broadly, it implies someone who seeks favor by flattery but in a more elegant or refined manner.
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Examples of usage
- The minister surrounded himself with sycophants who never questioned his decisions.
- The president's inner circle was filled with sycophants who constantly praised him.
Translations
Translations of the word "sycophant" in other languages:
๐ต๐น bajulador
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเคพเคชเคฒเฅเคธ (chฤpalลซs)
๐ฉ๐ช Schmeichler
๐ฎ๐ฉ penjilat
๐บ๐ฆ ะฟัะดะปะตัะฝะธะบ
๐ต๐ฑ pochlebca
๐ฏ๐ต ใในใฃใไฝฟใ (obekka tsukai)
๐ซ๐ท flagorneur
๐ช๐ธ adulador
๐น๐ท yalaka
๐ฐ๐ท ์์ฒจ๊พผ (acheomkkun)
๐ธ๐ฆ ู ูุงูู (munafiq)
๐จ๐ฟ lichotnรญk
๐ธ๐ฐ lichotnรญk
๐จ๐ณ ่ฐๅช่ (chวnmรจi zhฤ)
๐ธ๐ฎ prilizovalec
๐ฎ๐ธ smjaรฐr
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะถะฐาัะผะฟะฐะท (jaฤympaz)
๐ฌ๐ช แแแแฅแแแแแ (mlikvneli)
๐ฆ๐ฟ yaltaq
๐ฒ๐ฝ adulador
Etymology
The term 'sycophant' originated in ancient Greece, where a 'sycophant' referred to someone who informed against or accused others falsely to gain advantage. Over time, the meaning evolved to describe individuals who use flattery or servile behavior to achieve their goals.
See also: sycophancy, sycophantic.