Sycopphant

A sycophant is an individual who attempts to win favor from wealthy or influential people by flattery. They often engage in obsequious behavior, praising and catering to the desires of those in power, even when they disagree with them. Their primary motivation is self-advancement, whether through social standing, material gain, or career progression. They prioritize the approval of superiors over genuine values and are usually willing to compromise their integrity for personal benefit. They are often seen as insincere and lacking genuine convictions, using manipulative tactics to achieve their goals. A sycophant's actions may be motivated by insecurity, a desire for status, or fear of reprisal.

Sycopphant meaning with examples

• At the company dinner, the sycophant lavished praise on the CEO, agreeing with every outlandish statement and laughing excessively at every joke. His coworkers, witnessing his blatant flattery, rolled their eyes, knowing he was just angling for a promotion. He focused on buttering up the boss at every turn.
• In the royal court, many advisors acted as sycophants to the king, constantly affirming his wisdom and strength, regardless of the consequences. They sought to manipulate their way to the king's ear and power, which blinded the ruler to dissenting opinions or genuine concerns about the kingdom's welfare. This created issues for the future.
• The aspiring politician surrounded himself with sycophants who told him only what he wanted to hear. He shut out any critical voices or alternative perspectives that might have made him a better leader, ultimately leading to disastrous policy decisions that damaged his reputation in the long term. This led to a downfall.
• Despite knowing the artist's work was subpar, the art dealer acted as a sycophant, gushing over the paintings and showering the artist with compliments. He was hoping to secure a larger commission, ignoring his artistic integrity to gain more clients and success from the job itself for a hefty profit.