sycophant
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sycophant
- /ˈsɪkəfænt/
- /ˈsɪkəfənt/
- /ˈsaɪkəfænt/
- /ˈsaɪkəfənt/
Where it comes from
First attested in 1537. From Latin sȳcophanta (“informer, trickster”), from Ancient Greek συκοφάντης (sukophántēs), itself from σῦκον (sûkon, “fig”) + φαίνω (phaínō, “to show, demonstrate”). The gesture of "showing the fig" was a vulgar one, which was made by sticking the thumb between two fingers, a display which vaguely resembles a fig, which is itself symbolic of a σῦκον (sûkon), which also meant vulva. The story behind this etymology is that politicians in ancient Greece steered clear of displaying that vulgar gesture, but secretly urged their followers to taunt their opponents by using it.
Cognate with Italian sicofante, Spanish sicofanta.
noun sycophants
-
One who uses obsequious compliments to gain self-serving favour or advantage from another; a servile flatterer.
A sycophant will everything admire: / Each verse, each sentence, sets his soul on fire
Similar: ass-kisser, brown-noser, suck-up, yes-man
- One who seeks to gain through the powerful and influential.
- An informer; a talebearer. [H]is mind had no eye to espy goodness; and therefore accusing sycophants, of all men, did best sort to his nature.
Similar: adulator, apple polisher, arse-kisser, arse-licker, ass-kisser, ass-licker, bootlick, bootlicker, buttkisser, buttlicker, brown-nose, brown-noser, clawback, dickrider, doormat, flatterer, flunkey, groveler, groveller, hanger-on, kiss-ass, lackey, lickspittle, lick-platter, lickpot, minion, people pleaser, pickthank, schmoozer, simp · Opposite: boss, malapert, ruler
verb sycophants · sycophanting · sycophanted
- To inform against; hence, to calumniate. As therefore he began in the title, so in the next leaf he makes it his first business to tamper with his reader by sycophanting and misnaming the work of his adversary.
- To play the sycophant toward; to flatter obsequiously.
Thesaurus
noun
Similar: adulator, apple polisher, arse-kisser, arse-licker, ass-kisser, ass-licker, bootlick, bootlicker, buttkisser, buttlicker, brown-nose, brown-noser, clawback, dickrider, doormat, flatterer, flunkey, groveler, groveller, hanger-on, kiss-ass, lackey, lickspittle, lick-platter, lickpot, minion, people pleaser, pickthank, schmoozer, simp · Opposite: boss, malapert, ruler
Translations
Every language
noun one who uses compliments to gain self-serving favor or advantage from another person
| Español | sicofanta, sicofante, pelota, pelotillero, acomedido, barbero |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | ごますり gomasuri |
| 中文 | 巴兒狗 /巴儿狗 bārgǒu |
| Português | sicofanta, bajulador, adulador, lambe-botas, puxa-saco, assecla |
| Français | flagorneur, lèche-bottes, lèche-cul |
| Deutsch | Kriecher, Schmeichler, Speichellecker, Schleimer |
| Italiano | ruffiano, delatore, leccaculo, adulatore, sicofante, leccapiedi |
| Ελληνικά | κόλακας kólakas |
| Română | lingău, pupincurist |
| Русский | льстец lʹstec, подхали́м podxalím, лизоблю́д lizobljúd, подли́за podlíza |
| Tiếng Việt | nịnh hót |
| العربية | مُتَمَلِّق m مُدَاهِن mutamalliq |
| עברית | חנפן khanfán |
Talk about this word "sycophant." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/sycophant. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. sycophant. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/sycophant "sycophant." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/sycophant.Cite this
@misc{sycophant_2026,
title = {sycophant},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/sycophant},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
