as in fawning
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Recent Examples of sycophancy
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
Carro's paper suggests that obvious sycophancy significantly reduces user trust.
—ArsTechnica, 21 Apr. 2025
Hierarchies breed a hell of a lot of sycophancy and resentment, and this one is no different.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
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
Carro's paper suggests that obvious sycophancy significantly reduces user trust.
—ArsTechnica, 21 Apr. 2025
Hierarchies breed a hell of a lot of sycophancy and resentment, and this one is no different.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sycophancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sycophancy
Noun
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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
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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
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The church is in the process of raising $75,000 to attain its own permanent space of worship and build newer generations’ faith, according to O’Connor.—
Olivia Cyrus
July 20,
Sacbee.com,
20 July 2025
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Many houses of worship host events encouraging members to vote — Souls to the Polls is an important event in many Black churches, for example — and some churches are polling places themselves.—
Lauren Costantino
Updated July 20,
Miami Herald,
20 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 30 Jul. 2025.
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