noun

sycophant

SIK-uh-funt

Sycophant (noun) means someone who flatters a powerful person constantly in order to gain favour from them. Example: “He surrounded himself with sycophants who never disagreed.”

noun

Someone who flatters a powerful person constantly in order to gain favour from them.

"He surrounded himself with sycophants who never disagreed."

How to use sycophant

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone who sucks up to powerful people to get ahead.

When to use it

Always insulting.

Easily confused with

obsequious → sycophantic →

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Etymology

From Greek "sykophantēs," literally "fig-shower," originally an informer or accuser in Athens. The literal sense is obscure and much debated; the meaning in English settled on flatterer.

Origin: Greek

Synonyms

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flatterer toady yes-man bootlicker

Related words

Jenkins bootlicker flatterer toady devil's advocate fawn stooge kowtow

Frequently asked questions

What is a sycophant?

Someone who flatters and agrees with a powerful person constantly, hoping to gain something by it. Always used disapprovingly.

How do you pronounce sycophant?

SIK-uh-funt — the "syc" is said like "sick", not "sike".

What is the meaning of sycophant?

"sycophant" (noun) means someone who flatters a powerful person constantly in order to gain favour from them.

What is another word for sycophant?

Other words for "sycophant" include flatterer, toady, yes-man, bootlicker.

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Jenkins bootlicker flatterer toady devil's advocate fawn stooge kowtow