sycophancy
AmericanEtymology
Origin of sycophancy
First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin sȳcophantia “trickery,” from Greek sȳkophantía “dishonest prosecution,” from sȳkophánt(ēs) “informer” ( 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.
The most basic way to counter AI sycophancy is to ask open-ended questions.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026
The phenomenon is called sycophancy: Models effectively tell users what they want to hear.
From Salon • Jan. 3, 2026
The spoof featured the society's imaginary president declaring: "True sycophancy is non-political."
From BBC • Jul. 7, 2025
Let he who is without stomach-turning sycophancy cast the first stone.
From Slate • Jan. 21, 2025
Successive Lord Mayors of Dublin have held aloof from the Government—some from conviction, the majority frightened by the bogie of sycophancy.
From The Viceroys of Ireland by O'Mahony, Charles
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.
