sycophantic
Other forms: sycophantically
The adjective sycophantic is perfect for describing someone who uses flattery to get what they want. The sycophantic guy in your biology class might compliment the professor on her fabulous shoes as he hands in his lab report.
Someone who's sycophantic goes overboard with compliments, usually to gain some kind of advantage. You see sycophantic behavior in Hollywood all the time, from red carpet interviews pouring flattery on movie stars to fawning autograph seekers. Sycophantic comes from the Greek word sykophantes, "one who shows the fig," a vulgar gesture of the time. The reference is to hypocritical Greeks behind the scenes who pretended to flatter while encouraging others to "show the fig."
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attempting to win favor by flatterysynonyms: bootlicking, fawning, toadyishservilesubmissive or fawning in attitude or behavior
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attempting to win favor from influential people by flatterysynonyms: bootlicking, fawning, obsequious, toadyishinsincerelacking sincerity
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Vocabulary lists containing sycophantic
In this retelling, the monster from the Old English epic Beowulf, shares his own story.
Citra and Rowan live in a society in which all natural causes of death have been eliminated. The two teenagers are recruited to be "scythes," people who administer death in order to cull the population.
In this famous essay, Emerson argues against conformity and suggests that individuals must rely on their on their own ideas. Here are links to our lists for other works by Ralph Waldo Emerson: Nature, The Young American