Sycophantic   (pronounced sih-kuh-fan-tik or sy-kuh-fan-tik) adjective


Definition

adjective from the noun sycophant.

SYCOPHANT (pronounced sih-kuh-funt or sy-kuh-funt) =
a servile self-seeker who tries to win favor by flattering people of wealth or influence; a fawning or obsequious person; parasite.

Main Example

  • In Britain, where nearly 70% of the public opposes a war with Iraq, many have criticized Tony Blair as being in "sycophantic compliance" with America and have even called him a Bush lap dog. But in recent speeches, Blair has shot back, saying that getting rid of Saddam Hussein is so much in the British national interest that, had the U.S. been laid back on this issue, he would actually be "egging them on."

    Workplace Examples

  • Why do you want to take on the headache of having Sue report to you? I'm told she is very independent minded and tough to manage! Sue is not the sycophantic sort in the least.

  • Why are you all so surprised that Craig vehemently disagreed with me during the meeting? Yes, he and I are good friends but we can take criticism from each other. Being a friend does not mean being a sycophant.

    Other Examples

  • somebody who likes sycophantic attention

  • many CEOs telling interviewers that a key ingredient to their success is having surrounded themselves with smart people rather than sycophants

  • organization behaviorists writing about how President Johnson's decision making during the Vietnam War suffered from groupthink and sycophancy: only sycophants were able to get the ear of the president because those who disagreed with his thinking were classed as "not being one of us" and cut out of the loop

  • during Enron's heyday, its executives glaring down any Wall Street analyst who was less than sycophantic in praise of the management and dared ask probing questions

    © 2003 V.J. Singal

    This Month's Other Words

    Rumination
    Vituperative
    Predilection
    Intemperate and Temperate
    Disaffection
    Foment
    Disavow

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