Sycophant

Pronunciation: /ˈsɪkəˌfænt/

Definitions of sycophant

noun a person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage or favor; a servile flatterer

Example Sentences

A1 A sycophant is someone who flatters others to gain favor.

A2 The sycophant always agreed with the boss to get ahead in the company.

B1 She was known as a sycophant because she would do anything to please those in power.

B2 The politician surrounded himself with sycophants who praised his every move.

C1 The CEO was tired of sycophants in the office who only told him what he wanted to hear.

C2 The dictator's inner circle was filled with sycophants who would do anything to maintain their positions of power.

Examples of sycophant in a Sentence

formal The CEO was surrounded by sycophants who constantly praised his every decision.

informal I can't stand that guy, he's such a sycophant always trying to impress the boss.

slang Don't be a sycophant, just be yourself and speak your mind.

figurative The sycophant's words were like honey, sweet but ultimately not to be trusted.

Grammatical Forms of sycophant

• past tense: sycophanted
• plural: sycophants
• comparative: more sycophantic
• superlative: most sycophantic
• present tense: sycophants
• future tense: will sycophant
• perfect tense: have sycophanted
• continuous tense: is sycophanting
• singular: sycophant
• positive degree: sycophant
• infinitive: to sycophant
• gerund: sycophanting
• participle: sycophanted

Origin and Evolution of sycophant

First Known Use: 1537 year

Language of Origin: Greek

Story behind the word: The word 'sycophant' originates from ancient Greece, where 'sykophantes' referred to informers who would denounce others for exporting figs, which was illegal at the time.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'sycophant' evolved to refer to someone who flatters or acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage, with a negative connotation of insincerity and manipulation.