sycophantic

adjective

sy·​co·​phan·​tic ˌsi-kə-ˈfan-tik How to pronounce sycophantic (audio)
 also  ˌsī-
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a sycophant : fawning, obsequious
sycophantic compliments
sycophantically adverb

Examples of sycophantic in a Sentence

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The bad behavior now is that of an erratic and volatile president, sycophantic and inexperienced Cabinet secretaries, an absentee Congress and financial market players beset with delusional expectations of bailouts. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2025 Her circle of slightly sycophantic colleagues (Michael Stuhlbarg, Chloe Sevigny) tout her brilliance, even as her reckless former lover Garfield pushes boundaries verbally and, eventually, physically. Matt Donnelly, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025 Leavitt and her colleagues could stock the briefing room’s front rows with sycophantic figures – or move more serious questioners to the back. Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2025 No wonder, Maher at the end of the show went after Trump, his sycophantic cabinet and the MAGA crowd for threatening our former closest ally Canada and openly talking about a third term. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sycophantic

Word History

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sycophantic was in 1676

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Cite this Entry

“Sycophantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sycophantic. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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