as in obsequious
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Recent Examples of sycophantic
Researchers have found that AI can exhibit manipulative or sycophantic behavior in ways that appear personalized, especially during extended interactions.
—
Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
Constantly giving me positive attention, which felt, at times, sycophantic.
—Cathy Hackl, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
After the model has been trained, companies can set system prompts, or guidelines, for how the model should behave to minimize sycophantic behavior.
—ArsTechnica, 12 June 2025
Schwartzman’s character, Souper—the poorest of the group, whose nickname is short for soup kitchen—gives off an insecure, sycophantic vibe that reminds me of an acolyte from Musk’s text messages.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sycophantic
Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
Constantly giving me positive attention, which felt, at times, sycophantic.
—Cathy Hackl, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
After the model has been trained, companies can set system prompts, or guidelines, for how the model should behave to minimize sycophantic behavior.
—ArsTechnica, 12 June 2025
Schwartzman’s character, Souper—the poorest of the group, whose nickname is short for soup kitchen—gives off an insecure, sycophantic vibe that reminds me of an acolyte from Musk’s text messages.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sycophantic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sycophantic
Adjective
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The Texas State Legislature was even more obsequious, approving a $15 million incentive package in 2013.—
Guthrie Scrimgeour,
Rolling Stone,
17 June 2025
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Softening the strongman The film starts with the loyal and somewhat obsequious journalist Pavel Zarubin interviewing Putin at the end of his long working day in the Kremlin, at 1:30 a.m.—
Peter Rutland,
The Conversation,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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His servile defense secretary has threatened to deploy the military in other cities.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
13 June 2025
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Bahrain is ruled by Sunnis and has a mostly Shiite population permanently restless over its servile condition.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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Photo Gallery Feeling the heat, George accepts an offer to take the lead in a largely fictional and completely hagiographic biopic of (current) Egyptian President Al-Sisi.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
19 May 2025
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Feeling the heat, George accepts an offer to take the lead in a largely fictional and completely hagiographic biopic of (current) Egyptian president Al-Sisi.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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On Wednesday morning, the secretary-general followed up with a photo op alongside Trump; his language during the press conference was, if anything, even more worshipful.—
Susan B. Glasser,
New Yorker,
26 June 2025
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Conway, an Irishman like Fennell, rides a motorbike, inspires worshipful devotion in his crew, and can free-dive to extraordinary depths.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sycophantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sycophantic. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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