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
1
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 notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who sucks up to powerful people to get ahead.
When to use it
Always insulting.
Easily confused with
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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.
Synonyms
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Related words
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, lackey, crawler.
