as in fawning
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Recent Examples of sycophancy
Russian dissidents – most now either in jail or abroad – see Putin as a dictator who has built a brittle system of personal rule reliant on sycophancy and corruption that is leading Russia towards decline and turmoil.
—
Reuters, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
Carro's paper suggests that obvious sycophancy significantly reduces user trust.
—ArsTechnica, 21 Apr. 2025
Hierarchies breed a hell of a lot of sycophancy and resentment, and this one is no different.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025
Groupthink and sycophancy played a role in Iraqi decision-making, the records show, but not as much as might have been expected.
—Amatzia Baram, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2012
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
Reuters, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
Carro's paper suggests that obvious sycophancy significantly reduces user trust.
—ArsTechnica, 21 Apr. 2025
Hierarchies breed a hell of a lot of sycophancy and resentment, and this one is no different.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025
Groupthink and sycophancy played a role in Iraqi decision-making, the records show, but not as much as might have been expected.
—Amatzia Baram, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2012
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sycophancy
Noun
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Were any parts of her personality driven in direct opposition or in adoration of her two older sisters?—
Brooke Lea Foster,
People.com,
30 June 2025
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There’s not this salivation for love, adoration— From your audiences.—
Danyel Smith,
Rolling Stone,
18 June 2025
Noun
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This should be the subject of discussions in America’s classrooms, book clubs, houses of worship, legislative chambers, service clubs, podcasts, and social media feeds in 2026.—
Hans Zeiger,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 July 2025
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King said the one caveat for houses of worship is that some spaces could be considered private, such as offices or classrooms, while the sanctuary or lobby could be considered public.—
Liam Adams,
The Tennessean,
4 July 2025
Noun
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As religions developed and faiths were defined in Biblical texts and commentaries, teachings began to distinguish between veneration and idolatry.—
Judy Knotts,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
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The Muhammad Ali Center previously told The Courier Journal the cultural center doesn't have a statue of Ali out of respect for his Islamic faith, which forbids idolatry.—
Killian Baarlaer,
The Courier-Journal,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sycophancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sycophancy. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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