using flattery to win favour from individuals wielding influence; toadyish; obsequious
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
syc•o•phant /ˈsɪkəfənt, -ˌfænt/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
syc•o•phan•tic /ˌsɪkəˈfæntɪk/USA pronunciation adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- a self-seeking person who flatters others in power.
syc•o•phan•tic /ˌsɪkəˈfæntɪk/USA pronunciation adj.
syc•o•phant
(sik′ə fənt, -fant′, sī′kə-),USA pronunciation n.
syc′o•phan′tic, syc′o•phan′ti•cal, syc′o•phant′ish, adj.
syc′o•phan′ti•cal•ly, syc′o•phant′ish•ly, adv.
syc′o•phant•ism, n.
- a self-seeking, servile flatterer;
fawning parasite.
- Greek sȳkophántēs informer, equivalent. to sŷko(n) fig + phan- (stem of phaínein to show) + -tēs agentive suffix
- Latin sȳcophanta
- 1530–40
syc′o•phan′ti•cal•ly, syc′o•phant′ish•ly, adv.
syc′o•phant•ism, n.
- toady, yes man, flunky, fawner, flatterer.
'sycophantic' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):