sycophant

[sik-uh-fuhnt, -fant, sahy-kuh-]

noun

1. a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite.

   Synonyms: flatterer, fawner, flunky, toady

sycophant

/ ˈsɪkəfənt /

noun

1. a person who uses flattery to win favour from individuals wielding influence; toady

Other Word Forms

• sycophantic adjective
• sycophantical adjective
• sycophantish adjective
• sycophantically adverb
• sycophantishly adverb
• sycophantism noun
• sycophancy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sycophant¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin sȳcophanta, from Greek sȳkophántēs “informer,” from sŷko(n) “fig” + phan- (stem of phaínein “to show”) + -tēs, agent noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of sycophant¹

C16: from Latin sӯcophanta, from Greek sukophantēs, literally: the person showing a fig, apparently referring to the fig sign used in making an accusation, from sukon fig + phainein to show; sense probably developed from ``accuser'' to ``informer, flatterer''

Example Sentences

When Hussein was deposed in Iraq, the military officers, Ba’ath Party loyalists and regime-tied sycophants who ruled the roost for nearly a quarter-century were forced to make do with an entirely new situation.

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Consider a country where the press is filled with sycophants who do the bidding of the country’s leader.

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And it is all being fed by sycophants and henchmen who have created a self-reinforcing feedback loop.

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And while at first Oliver rules over a pack of sycophants, the power shifts.

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Presley and Parker grew distant, as Presley insulated himself with sycophants and his behavior both on and offstage grew increasingly erratic.

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Related Words

• groupie 
• lackey