Definition of Sycophant

1. Noun. A person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage.

Exact synonyms: Ass-kisser, Crawler, Lackey, Toady
Specialized synonyms: Apple Polisher, Bootlicker, Fawner, Groveler, Groveller, Truckler, Goody-goody
Generic synonyms: Adulator, Flatterer
Derivative terms: Crawl, Sycophancy, Sycophantic, Sycophantic, Toady

Definition of Sycophant

1. n. An informer; a talebearer.

2. v. t. To inform against; hence, to calumniate.

3. v. i. To play the sycophant.

Definition of Sycophant

1. Noun. One who uses compliments to gain self-serving favor or advantage from another. ¹

2. Noun. One who seeks to gain through the powerful and influential. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Sycophant

1. [n -S]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Sycophant

sycees
syces
sycite
sycites
sycoceric acid
sycoceryl
sycock
sycomore
sycomore fig
sycomore figs
sycomores
syconia
syconium
sycophancies
sycophancy
sycophant (current term)
sycophantcy
sycophantic
sycophantical
sycophantically
sycophantish
sycophantishly
sycophantism
sycophantisms
sycophantize
sycophantized
sycophantizing
sycophantly
sycophantry
sycophants

Literary usage of Sycophant

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. English Synonymes: With Copious Illustrations and Explanations. Drawn from by George Crabb (1863)
"The flatterer is one who flatters by words ; the sycophant and parasite is ... for the sycophant adopts every moan artifice by which he can ingratiate ..."

2. English Synonymes Explained in Alphabetical Order: With Copious by George Crabb (1881)
"By a revolution in the state, the fawning sycophant of yesterday is converted into the austere critic of the present hour. ..."

3. English Synonymes: With Copious Illustrations and Explanations. Drawn from by George Crabb (1863)
"The flatterer is one who flatters by words ; the sycophant and parasite is ... for the sycophant adopts every moan artifice by which he can ingratiate ..."

4. English Synonymes Explained in Alphabetical Order: With Copious by George Crabb (1881)
"By a revolution in the state, the fawning sycophant of yesterday is converted into the austere critic of the present hour. ..."

5. A Select Glossary of English Words Used Formerly in Senses Different from by Richard Chenevix Trench (1865)
"The early meaning of 'sycophant,' when it was employed as equivalent to ... The poor man, that hath nought to lose, is not afraid of the sycophant or ..."

6. A Select Glossary of English Words Used Formerly in Senses Different from by Richard Chenevix Trench (1865)
"The early meaning of 'sycophant,' when it was employed as equivalent to ... The poor man, that hath nought to lose, is not afraid of the sycophant or ..."

7. British Synonymy: Or, An Attempt at Regulating the Choice of Words in by Hester Lynch Piozzi (1794)
"... sycophant, PARASITE, INFORMER. WE are always told, and truly I flip* ... sycophant being derived from two Greek words indicating a ..."

8. The Century Dictionary: An Encyclopedic Lexicon of the English Language by William Dwight Whitney (1891)
"Of or pertaining to a sycophant; characteristic of a sycophant; ... The arts of die sycophant; mean and officious tale-bearing or adulation. ..."

9. British Synonymy: Or, An Attempt at Regulating the Choice of Words in by Hester Lynch Piozzi (1794)
"... sycophant, PARASITE, INFORMER. WE are always told, and truly I flip* ... sycophant being derived from two Greek words indicating a ..."

10. The Century Dictionary: An Encyclopedic Lexicon of the English Language by William Dwight Whitney (1891)
"Of or pertaining to a sycophant; characteristic of a sycophant; ... The arts of die sycophant; mean and officious tale-bearing or adulation. ..."

11. British Synonymy: Or, An Attempt at Regulating the Choice of Words in by Hester Lynch Piozzi (1794)
"... sycophant, PARASITE, INFORMER. WJE are always told, ... the word sycophant being derived from two Greek words indicating a ..."

12. British Synonymy: Or, An Attempt at Regulating the Choice of Words in by Hester Lynch Piozzi (1794)
"... sycophant, PARASITE, INFORMER. WJE are always told, ... the word sycophant being derived from two Greek words indicating a ..."

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