sycophant Hear it!

sycophant Definition

syco·phant (sik′ə fənt, -fant′)

noun

a person who seeks favor by flattering people of wealth or influence; parasite; toady

Etymology: L sycophanta < Gr sykophantēs, informer, lit., maker of the sign of the fig < sykon, fig + phainein, to show: see fantasy

sycophant Related Forms
syc′o·phan′·tic (-fan′tik) adjective or syc′o·phant′·ish syc′o·phan′·ti·cally adverb or syc′o·phant′·ishly syc′o·phant·ism′ noun
sycophant Synonyms

sycophant

n.

parasite, leech, toady, flatterer, fawner, hanger-on, toadeater, tufthunter, lickspittle, flunkey, adulator, timeserver, cringer, crawler, truckler, slave, puppet, cat's-paw, groveler, spaniel, lap-dog, sniveler, apple polisher, gofer, yes-man, bootlicker, brown-nose*, stooge, back-scratcher, flunky, smoothie, soft-soap artist, baloneyer, apple-saucer, doormat.

Antonyms ruler*, master, dictator.

sycophant Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • cringe: Why create the enormity of the universe merely to have a single solitary planet briefly inhabited by cringing sycophants?

Noun used with modifier

  • government: Greedy developers, government sycophants and greenie fetishists blatantly lie that their wind-turbines are safe and attractive edifices.

Browse dictionary entries near sycophant

  1. ‹ sycophancy
  2. ‹ syconium
  3. ‹ sycee
  4. ‹ syce
  5. ‹ sycamore
  6. ‹ sycamine
  7. ‹ Sybil
  8. ‹ sybaritic
  9. ‹ Sybarite
  10. ‹ Sybaris
  1. sycophantic ›
  2. sycosis ›
  3. Sydney ›
  4. Syene ›
  5. syenite ›
  6. syl ›
  7. syl- ›
  8. syllabary ›
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