If you describe someone as sycophantic, you disapprove of them because they flatter people who are more important and powerful than they are in order to gain an advantage for themselves.
[disapproval]
...his clique of sycophantic friends.
We heard the sound of sycophantic laughter.
Synonyms: obsequious, grovelling, ingratiating, servile More Synonyms of sycophantic
sycophantic in British English
(ˌsɪkəˈfæntɪk)
adjective
using flattery to win favour from individuals wielding influence; toadyish; obsequious
Derived forms
sycophantically (ˌsycoˈphantically)
adverb
Synonyms of 'sycophantic'
obsequious, grovelling, ingratiating, servile
More Synonyms of sycophantic
(adjective)
his clique of sycophantic friends
Synonyms
obsequious
She is positively obsequious to anyone with a title.
grovelling
ingratiating
His fellow students had found him too ingratiating.
servile
He was subservient and servile.
crawling
flattering
The press was flattering.
cringing
fawning
flanked on all sides by fawning minions
slimy (British)
his slimy business partner
slavish
slavish devotion
unctuous
the kind of unctuous tone that I've heard at diplomatic parties
smarmy (British, informal)
He is slightly smarmy and eager to impress.
toadying
parasitical
arse-licking (taboo, slang)
bootlicking (informal)
timeserving
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fawning
flanked on all sides by fawning minions
Synonyms
obsequious,
crawling,
flattering,
cringing,
abject,
grovelling,
prostrate,
deferential,
sycophantic,
servile,
slavish,
bowing and scraping,
bootlicking (informal)
in the sense of flattering
The press was flattering.
Synonyms
ingratiating,
complimentary,
gratifying,
fawning,
sugary,
fulsome,
laudatory,
adulatory,
honeyed,
honey-tongued
in the sense of ingratiating
His fellow students had found him too ingratiating.
Synonyms
sycophantic,
servile,
obsequious,
crawling,
humble,
flattering,
fawning,
unctuous,
toadying,
bootlicking (informal),
timeserving
Nearby words of
sycophantic
sybaritic
sycophancy
sycophant
sycophantic
syllabus
sylphlike
symbol
Synonyms of 'sycophantic'
sycophantic
Explore 'sycophantic' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of servile
Definition
too eager to obey people
He was subservient and servile.
Synonyms
subservient,
cringing,
grovelling,
mean,
low,
base,
humble,
craven,
fawning,
abject,
submissive,
menial,
sycophantic,
slavish,
unctuous,
obsequious,
toadying,
bootlicking (informal),
toadyish
in the sense of slavish
Definition
of or like a slave
slavish devotion
Synonyms
servile,
cringing,
abject,
submissive,
grovelling,
mean,
low,
base,
fawning,
despicable,
menial,
sycophantic,
obsequious
in the sense of slimy
Definition
pleasant and friendly in an insincere way
his slimy business partner
Synonyms
obsequious,
creepy,
unctuous,
smarmy (British, informal),
oily,
grovelling,
soapy (slang),
sycophantic,
servile,
toadying
in the sense of smarmy
Definition
unpleasantly flattering or polite
He is slightly smarmy and eager to impress.
Synonyms
obsequious,
slimy (British),
ingratiating,
unctuous,
smooth,
crawling,
greasy,
oily,
fawning,
suave,
soapy (slang),
fulsome,
sycophantic,
servile,
toadying,
bowing and scraping,
bootlicking (informal)
in the sense of unctuous
Definition
pretending to be kind and concerned but obviously not sincere
the kind of unctuous tone that I've heard at diplomatic parties