1. behavior that shows excessive eagerness to please someone important in order to gain advantage; servile flattery
Usage: formal

Examples

• The politician was surrounded by advisors whose sycophancy prevented him from hearing honest criticism.
• Her rapid promotion was attributed more to sycophancy than to actual competence.
• The court was filled with nobles practicing shameless sycophancy toward the king.
• His sycophancy toward the boss made his colleagues uncomfortable.
• The journalist refused to engage in sycophancy when interviewing powerful figures.
• Students could see through the teacher’s pet’s obvious sycophancy.