A sycophant is a person who behaves in a sycophantic way.
[formal, disapproval]
...a dictator surrounded by sycophants, frightened to tell him what he may not like.
Synonyms: crawler, yes man, toady, slave More Synonyms of sycophant
sycophant in British English
(ˈsɪkəˌfænt)
noun
a person who uses flattery to win favour from individuals wielding influence; toady
Derived forms
sycophancy (ˈsycophancy)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin sӯcophanta, from Greek sukophantēs, literally: the person showing a fig, apparently referring to the fig sign used inmaking an accusation, from sukon fig + phainein to show; sense probably developed from 'accuser' to 'informer, flatterer'
sycophant in American English
(ˈsɪkəfənt; ˈsɪkəˌfænt)
noun
a person who seeks favor by flattering people of wealth or influence; parasite; toady
Derived forms
sycophantic (ˌsycoˈphantic) (ˈsɪkəˈfæntɪk)
adjective or ˌsycoˈphantish
sycophantically (ˌsycoˈphantically)
adverb or ˌsycoˈphantishly
sycophantism (ˈsycophantˌism)
noun
Word origin
L sycophanta < Gr sykophantēs, informer, lit., maker of the sign of the fig < sykon, fig + phainein, to show: see fantasy
Synonyms of 'sycophant'
crawler, yes man, toady, slave
More Synonyms of sycophant
(noun)
Definition
a person who uses flattery to win favour from people with power or influence
a dictator surrounded by sycophants
Synonyms
crawler
yes man
toady
Life was too short to become a toady to a megalomaniac.
slave
parasite
parasites living off the state
cringer
fawner
hanger-on
five thousand delegates, with 30,000 assorted hangers-on
sponger (informal)
Is he an aggressive sponger or does he have a case?
brown-noser (taboo, slang)
flatterer
truckler
lickspittle (old-fashioned)
ass-kisser (US, Canadian, taboo, slang)
apple polisher (US, slang)
bootlicker (informal)
toadeater (rare)
suckhole (Australian, slang)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bootlicker
Definition
one who seeks favour by grovelling to someone in authority
Synonyms
crawler,
fawner,
spaniel,
lackey,
sycophant,
yes man,
toady,
flunky,
brown-noser (taboo, slang),
flatterer,
ass-kisser (US, Canadian, taboo, slang)
in the sense of hanger-on
Definition
an unwanted follower, esp. of a rich or famous person
five thousand delegates, with 30,000 assorted hangers-on
Synonyms
parasite,
follower,
cohort (US),
leech,
dependant,
minion,
lackey,
sycophant,
freeloader (slang),
sponger (informal),
ligger (slang),
quandong (Australian, slang)
in the sense of parasite
Definition
a person who habitually lives at the expense of others
parasites living off the state
Synonyms
sponger (informal),
sponge (informal),
drone (British),
leech,
hanger-on,
scrounger (informal),
bloodsucker (informal),
cadger,
quandong (Australian, slang)
Nearby words of
sycophant
sybarite
sybaritic
sycophancy
sycophant
sycophantic
syllabus
sylphlike
Synonyms of 'sycophant'
sycophant
Explore 'sycophant' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of sponger
Definition
a person who lives off other people by continually taking advantage of their generosity
Is he an aggressive sponger or does he have a case?
Synonyms
scrounger,
parasite,
leech,
hanger-on (informal),
cadge (British),
freeloader (slang),
bloodsucker (informal),
bludger (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
cadger,
quandong (Australian, slang)
in the sense of toady
Definition
a person who flatters and ingratiates himself or herself in a fawning way
Life was too short to become a toady to a megalomaniac.