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Synonyms

sycophancy

American  
[sik-uh-fuhn-see, -fan-, sahy-kuh-] / ˈsɪk ə fən si, -ˌfæn-, ˈsaɪ kə- /

noun

  1. self-seeking or servile flattery.

  2. the character or conduct of a sycophant.

Etymology

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.

AI’s sycophancy reinforces human confirmation bias, but users can employ tactics to counteract this tendency.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

Bezos has no love for reporting but lots for sycophancy.

From Slate • Feb. 5, 2026

It said it would build more guardrails to increase transparency, and refine the system itself "to explicitly steer the model away from sycophancy".

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2025

Carvey's bouncing and buffoonish take on Musk's sycophancy struck a chord, with the Tesla head commenting on it on X.

From Salon • Nov. 24, 2024

But was it loyalty or sycophancy that could thus transmute even George I. into "the best of princes"?

From Books Condemned to be Burnt by Farrer, James Anson

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.