sycophancy

[sik-uh-fuhn-see, -fan-, sahy-kuh-]

noun

1. self-seeking or servile flattery.

2. the character or conduct of a sycophant.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sycophancy¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin sȳcophantia “trickery,” from Greek sȳkophantía “dishonest prosecution,” from sȳkophánt(ēs) “informer” ( sycophant ) + -ia -y ³

Example Sentences

“AI platforms tend to demonstrate sycophancy, i.e., aligning their responses to a user’s views or style of conversation,” Schueller said.

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Cult of the infallible leader: While the leader is of course indispensable, his supremacy and dominance would be impossible to maintain without the sycophancy and unquestioning obedience of millions of members of the national community.

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OpenAI the creator of ChatGPT says that its latest model has shown improvements in areas like avoiding unhealthy levels of emotional reliance and sycophancy.

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The spoof featured the society's imaginary president declaring: "True sycophancy is non-political."

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Trump, in the bubble of sycophancy he’s created in the Cabinet, Congress and among his base, proceeds with few checks.

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Related Words

• toadyism www.thesaurus.com