sycophantic
adj/sɪkəˈfæntɪk/
Etymology From Ancient Greek σῡκοφᾰντῐκός (sūkophăntĭkós). By surface analysis, sycophant + -ic.
1
Excessively eager to please, especially for personal gain; obsequious, flattering.
- The sycophantic slags all say / "I knew him first, and I knew him well"1987, “Paint a Vulgar Picture”, in Morrissey (lyrics), Johnny Marr (music), Strangeways, Here We Come, performed by The Smiths:
- I melt into a sycophantic soup, and all that’s left to do is giggle, fawn and swoon.2011, Felix Hagan, “Just Like All The Rest”, in Dawn Breaks, the Monster Wakes...:
2 more examples
- when the princess’s former nanny Marion Crawford, “Crawfie”, published an entirely anodyne and sycophantic memoir in 1950, she was cast into outer darkness by the family.2022 September 8, Stephen Bates, “Queen Elizabeth II obituary”, in The Guardian:
- Then, at the 40 minute mark, [US Vice President J.D.] Vance chimed in with some sycophantic nonsense.2025 February 28, Jonah Goldberg, “Dishonor and Incompetence in the Oval Office”, in The Dispatch:
- Synonyms
- asslicky, fawning, greasy, groveling, ingratiating, obsequious, oily, oleaginous, schmoozy, self-abasing, slimy, soapy, sucky, sycophantic, toadyish, toadying, truckling, unctuous
- Derived terms
- sycophantically, unsycophantic
- Related terms
- sycophant, abased, insincere, mealy-mouthed, nauseating, suck up
- Hypernyms
- effusive, flattering, servile