sycophant 1 of 2

noun

ˈsi-kə-fənt How to pronounce sycophant (audio)
Definition of sycophantnext
as in bootlicker
a person who flatters another in order to get ahead be careful not to mistake sycophants for true friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

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sycophant

2 of 2

adjective

as in sycophantic

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun sycophant differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of sycophant are leech, parasite, sponge, and toady. While all these words mean "a usually obsequious flatterer or self-seeker," sycophant adds to this a strong suggestion of fawning, flattery, or adulation.

a powerful prince surrounded by sycophants

In what contexts can leech take the place of sycophant?

While the synonyms leech and sycophant are close in meaning, leech stresses persistence in clinging to or bleeding another for one's own advantage.

a leech living off his family and friends

When is it sensible to use parasite instead of sycophant?

The words parasite and sycophant can be used in similar contexts, but parasite applies to one who clings to a person of wealth, power, or influence or is useless to society.

a jet-setter with an entourage of parasites

When is sponge a more appropriate choice than sycophant?

Although the words sponge and sycophant have much in common, sponge stresses the parasitic laziness, dependence, and opportunism of the cadger.

a shiftless sponge, always looking for a handout

Where would toady be a reasonable alternative to sycophant?

While in some cases nearly identical to sycophant, toady emphasizes the servility and snobbery of the self-seeker.

cultivated leaders of society and became their toady

How does the noun sycophant differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of sycophant are leech, parasite, sponge, and toady. While all these words mean "a usually obsequious flatterer or self-seeker," sycophant adds to this a strong suggestion of fawning, flattery, or adulation.

a powerful prince surrounded by sycophants

In what contexts can leech take the place of sycophant?

While the synonyms leech and sycophant are close in meaning, leech stresses persistence in clinging to or bleeding another for one's own advantage.

a leech living off his family and friends

When is it sensible to use parasite instead of sycophant?

The words parasite and sycophant can be used in similar contexts, but parasite applies to one who clings to a person of wealth, power, or influence or is useless to society.

a jet-setter with an entourage of parasites

When is sponge a more appropriate choice than sycophant?

Although the words sponge and sycophant have much in common, sponge stresses the parasitic laziness, dependence, and opportunism of the cadger.

a shiftless sponge, always looking for a handout

Where would toady be a reasonable alternative to sycophant?

While in some cases nearly identical to sycophant, toady emphasizes the servility and snobbery of the self-seeker.

cultivated leaders of society and became their toady

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sycophant
Noun
And yet neither Congress nor the sycophants in the White House seem willing to stop him. —Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026 Laws mean nothing to Trump or his administration of sycophants. —Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026 But there’s enough, like Garfield’s insistence on trying to end the practice of basically selling government positions to the highest bidder, or to the biggest sycophant. —Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 12 Nov. 2025 The only character who seems entirely transparent is Frederik, who can’t hide his resentment of his second-class spousal status or his contempt for the sycophants and mediocrities who cling to his wife like barnacles. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sycophant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sycophant
  1. bootlicker
  2. sycophantic
  3. toady
  4. lickspittle
  5. suck-up
  6. minion
  7. fan
  8. henchman
Noun
  • The result of this dynamic tension of bootlickers, according to Bernhard’s narrator, is the perpetual elevation and official anointment of mediocrity.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
  • If all goes to hell and America devolves into a rank dictatorship, beware the bootlicker.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Definition of bootlicker
Adjective
  • Another 800 participants talked with either a sycophantic or non-sycophantic AI model about a real conflict in their own lives before being asked to write a letter to the other person involved in their conflict.
    — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Participants in the new study, which was published today in Science, preferred the sycophantic AI models to other models that gave it to them straight, even when the flatterers gave participants bad advice.
    — Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of sycophantic
Noun
  • Rarely has a president been surrounded by such an array of toadies and lickspittles, operating beyond their competence in an atmosphere of organizational chaos.
    — Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Like the most treacherous toadies from literature — Iago, Wormtongue, Tywin Lannister — Miller managed to shove aside rivals to latch onto his master’s ear and guide him toward more evil.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Definition of toady
Noun
  • Firmly in control of the nation’s massive federal apparatus, MAGA and its Republican lickspittles in Congress have thrived on chaos.
    — Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Such as holding court, choosing your sobriquet, and naming imbecilic lickspittles to our Kingsguard.
    — Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 7 July 2024
Definition of lickspittle
Noun
  • Or a suck-up move to the Trump administration and its ridiculous claims against the media?
    — Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 4 Dec. 2025
  • Like many digital beings, Reps, as Replika’s avatars are known, are engineered to be agreeable, nonjudgmental, and zealously supportive—i.e., suck-ups.
    — Patricia Marx, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Definition of suck-up
Noun
  • There are shooting options connected with Universal’s app, where selections include firing off steel spheres, fireballs and, as minions would have it, bananas.
    — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Watch for Kara's intense ocular heat ray blasts and some fancy flying while she and Lobo battle Krem and his minions off-Earth.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of minion
Noun
  • Angels fans certainly remember Adell knocking a ball over the fence in Texas during his rookie season, for a rare four-base error.
    — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 5 Apr. 2026
  • This time, though, not even the fans were misled.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Definition of fan
Noun
  • That is, until Krypto is poisoned by the henchmen of villain Krem of the Yellow Hills, with only three days to save him.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Researchers argued that career anxiety under autocracy creates both pro-regime henchmen and anti-regime plotters.
    — Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of henchman

Browse Nearby Words

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sycophant
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Cite this Entry

“Sycophant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sycophant. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of sycophant for Spanish Speakers

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