sycophancy
AmericanEtymology
Origin of sycophancy
First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin sȳcophantia “trickery,” from Greek sȳkophantía “dishonest prosecution,” from sȳkophánt(ēs) “informer” ( see sycophant) + -ia -y 3
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And Ms. Bioh has the girls’ attitudes to her take an implausibly abrupt turn from sycophancy to snickering mockery when Ericka exposes the hollowness of her pretensions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
Rupar wrote on both X and Bluesky on Saturday, over a Getty image of Natalie Harp, a Trump aide who has drawn widespread attention for her unsettling sycophancy.
From Salon ● Sep. 16, 2026
Bezos has no love for reporting but lots for sycophancy.
From Slate ● Feb. 5, 2026
The phenomenon is called sycophancy: Models effectively tell users what they want to hear.
From Salon ● Jan. 3, 2026
Pride hates the sycophancy which is acceptable to vanity.
From Trevethlan: Volume 1 A Cornish Story. by William Davy Watson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
