as in fawning
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Recent Examples of sycophancy
The OpenAI Model Spec — the document that describes what the company is aiming for with its products — warns against sycophancy, saying that:
The assistant exists to help the user, not flatter them or agree with them all the time.
—
Kelsey Piper, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Meanwhile, competitors like Meta, Anthropic, OpenAI, and Microsoft continue to push more aggressively into the AI space, offering AI assistants (that admittedly still make things up and suffer from other issues, such as sycophancy).
—ArsTechnica, 9 June 2025
This effect is exacerbated by sycophancy and can spark groupthink, ignoring dissent or mistaking silence for support.
—Nuala Walsh, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
Kelsey Piper, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Meanwhile, competitors like Meta, Anthropic, OpenAI, and Microsoft continue to push more aggressively into the AI space, offering AI assistants (that admittedly still make things up and suffer from other issues, such as sycophancy).
—ArsTechnica, 9 June 2025
This effect is exacerbated by sycophancy and can spark groupthink, ignoring dissent or mistaking silence for support.
—Nuala Walsh, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sycophancy
Noun
-
The incident causes much stress for Josh, as his adoration for Winfrey is a running joke throughout the series.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
20 July 2025
-
The sight of Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough and AJ McLean caused a level of ear-splitting adoration that has been trailing the guys for 30 years.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
Shortly after taking office, Trump threw out DHS policies to limit where ICE arrests can take place, granting ICE the right to conduct raids in places of worship, schools, and hospitals.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 July 2025
-
The new suit seeks to expand that injunctive relief to other houses of worship.—
Sophie Carson,
jsonline.com,
30 July 2025
Noun
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Treating it as such is an insidious form of idolatry.—
Walt Shelton,
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 5 Aug. 2025.
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