sycophancy
noun
sy·co·phan·cy
ˈsi-kə-fən(t)-sē 
also ˈsī-,
-ˌfan(t)-
: obsequious flattery
also
: the character or behavior of a sycophant
Examples of sycophancy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The closest historic analogy to what’s happening in Trump’s Washington is the court of Louis XIV, which brimmed with competitive sycophancy and insider deals.
—
Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 23 July 2025
Combined with the mandatory fawning sycophancy required of everyone in his orbit, the President fits the profile of an emotionally insecure man whose bluster collapses when push comes to shove.
—Doug McIntyre, Oc Register, 22 June 2025
This may suggest that current safety guardrails and training methods may not address these gaps in AI outputs, and that a potentially dangerous sycophancy problem persists across different model generations.
—ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025
Another problem with Rutte’s strategy is that there is little evidence that sycophancy, no matter how extreme, has produced significant long-term change in Trump’s views.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
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Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 23 July 2025
Combined with the mandatory fawning sycophancy required of everyone in his orbit, the President fits the profile of an emotionally insecure man whose bluster collapses when push comes to shove.
—Doug McIntyre, Oc Register, 22 June 2025
This may suggest that current safety guardrails and training methods may not address these gaps in AI outputs, and that a potentially dangerous sycophancy problem persists across different model generations.
—ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025
Another problem with Rutte’s strategy is that there is little evidence that sycophancy, no matter how extreme, has produced significant long-term change in Trump’s views.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
Cite this Entry
“Sycophancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sycophancy. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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