{ "sycophant":{ "antonyms":[], "definitions":{ ": a servile self-seeking flatterer":[] }, "examples":[ "His press conference on January 11 was all aimed toward a single moment. The President was at his rostrum at the \u00c9lys\u00e9e, with a crowd of courtiers, journalists, and sycophants herded behind a velvet rope. One reporter was allowed across the rope to put the same question, in exactly the same words, as he had put when Chirac had been nearing the end of his first term: Would he perhaps consider standing for a further five years", "And swirling all around were coteries of agents, managers, execs, and moneymen; publicists and journalists, gawkers and sycophants . \u2014 Daniel Fierman et al. , Entertainment Weekly , 9 June 2006", "Where his father liked to have sycophants , he likes to be with intellectuals. He likes confrontation. \u2014 Franklin Foer , New Republic , 14 Jan. 2002", "when her career was riding high, the self-deluded actress often mistook sycophants for true friends", "Recent Examples on the Web", "Pence had been among the most loyal soldiers of Trump\u2019s presidency, defending him against multiple ethics charges and praising him so effusively that many ridiculed him as a sycophant . \u2014 Noah Biermanstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times , 16 June 2022", "Thanks but no thanks for your sycophant service, Big Luther Strange, Ol\u2019 Roy Moore and \u2018Woke\u2019 Mo Brooks. \u2014 J.d. Crowe | Jdcrowe@al.com, al , 24 Mar. 2022", "Natalie tells Love that Sherry runs this town, so the only way to deal with her is to earn her respect or be a sycophant . \u2014 Jessica Goldstein, Vulture , 15 Oct. 2021", "Political foes view him as a Trump sycophant with authoritarian tendencies who bungled the COVID-19 pandemic. \u2014 Author: Skyler Swisher, Anchorage Daily News , 11 July 2021", "Political foes view him as a Trump sycophant with authoritarian tendencies who bungled the COVID-19 pandemic. \u2014 Author: Skyler Swisher, Anchorage Daily News , 11 July 2021", "Political foes view him as a Trump sycophant with authoritarian tendencies who bungled the COVID-19 pandemic. \u2014 Author: Skyler Swisher, Anchorage Daily News , 11 July 2021", "Political foes view him as a Trump sycophant with authoritarian tendencies who bungled the COVID-19 pandemic. \u2014 Author: Skyler Swisher, Anchorage Daily News , 11 July 2021", "Political foes view him as a Trump sycophant with authoritarian tendencies who bungled the COVID-19 pandemic. \u2014 Author: Skyler Swisher, Anchorage Daily News , 11 July 2021" ], "first_known_use":{ "1575, in the meaning defined above":"" }, "history_and_etymology":{ "borrowed from Latin s\u0233cophanta, borrowed from Greek s\u0233koph\u00e1nt\u0113s, literally, \"one who shows the fig,\" from s\u0177kon \"fig\" (perhaps in reference to an apotropaic gesture made by inserting the thumb between the index and second fingers) + -phant\u0113s, agentive derivative of pha\u00ednein \"to reveal, show, make known\"; perhaps from the use of such a gesture in denouncing a culprit \u2014 more at fig entry 1 , fantasy entry 1":"" }, "pronounciation":[ "\u02c8si-k\u0259-f\u0259nt", "also \u02c8s\u012b-", "-\u02ccfant" ], "synonym_discussion":"Choose the Right Synonym for sycophant parasite , sycophant , toady , leech , sponge mean a usually obsequious flatterer or self-seeker. parasite applies to one who clings to a person of wealth, power, or influence or is useless to society. a jet-setter with an entourage of parasites sycophant adds to this a strong suggestion of fawning, flattery, or adulation. a powerful prince surrounded by sycophants toady emphasizes the servility and snobbery of the self-seeker. cultivated leaders of society and became their toady leech stresses persistence in clinging to or bleeding another for one's own advantage. a leech living off his family and friends sponge stresses the parasitic laziness, dependence, and opportunism of the cadger. a shiftless sponge , always looking for a handout", "synonyms":[ "apple-polisher", "bootlicker", "brownnoser", "fawner", "flunky", "flunkey", "flunkie", "lickspittle", "suck-up", "toady" ], "time_of_retrieval":"20220707-050429", "type":[ "adjective", "noun" ] }, "sycamore":{ "type":[ "noun" ], "definitions":{ ": a fig tree ( Ficus sycomorus ) of Africa and the Middle East that is the sycamore of Scripture and has edible fruit similar but inferior to the common fig":[], ": a Eurasian maple ( Acer pseudoplatanus ) with long racemes of showy yellowish-green flowers that is widely planted as a shade tree":[] }, "pronounciation":[ "\u02c8si-k\u0259-\u02ccm\u022fr" ], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[ "Recent Examples on the Web", "For those with accessibility issues, there\u2019s a drive along the river from the Starved Rock boat ramp to the main parking lot; look for eagles perched on tall cottonwood and sycamore trees. \u2014 Nara Schoenberg, chicagotribune.com , 22 Jan. 2022", "And you, Eastern cottonwood of Clinton, and sycamore of Dutchess! \u2014 Susan Orlean, The New Yorker , 18 Jan. 2022", "Fearing the verdict might be reversed upon appeal, a mob of masked white men dragged Cooper from his cell and hung him from a sycamore tree outside the Towson jailhouse. \u2014 Ngan Ho, Baltimore Sun , 4 June 2022", "In fall, sycamore trees drop yellow leaves along the way. \u2014 Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Times , 21 Apr. 2022", "Sometimes two or three of my friends would join me in the sycamore , or in the maple down the street. \u2014 Robert Klose, The Christian Science Monitor , 19 May 2022", "Right now, oak, beech and sycamore trees are pumping pollen into the air, but don\u2019t expect a break when they are finished. \u2014 cleveland , 12 May 2022", "The bark of the beech and the surrounding trees\u2014 sycamore , dogwood, laurel\u2014have been polished, rubbed, and broken open by dinosaurs desperate for some form of relief. \u2014 Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine , 26 Apr. 2022", "The $6-million house has a bit more land, with pine, sycamore and citrus trees spread across two acres. \u2014 Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times , 12 Apr. 2022" ], "history_and_etymology":{ "Middle English sikamour, sicomore, borrowed from Anglo-French sicamour, borrowed from Latin s\u0233comorus, borrowed from Greek s\u0233k\u00f3moros \"sycamore fig\" ( s\u0233k\u00f3moron \"fruit of the sycamore fig\"), probably alteration by folk etymology of s\u0233k\u00e1m\u012bnos sycamine , with the ending conformed to m\u00f3ron \"black mulberry, blackberry\" \u2014 more at mulberry":"" }, "first_known_use":{ "14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1":"" }, "time_of_retrieval":"20220709-084818" }, "sycamine":{ "type":[ "noun" ], "definitions":{ ": a tree of the Bible that is usually considered a mulberry ( Morus nigra )":[] }, "pronounciation":[ "-m\u0259n", "\u02c8si-k\u0259-\u02ccm\u012bn" ], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{ "borrowed from Latin s\u0233cam\u012bnos \"sycamore fig ( Ficus sycomorus ), mulberry ( Morus nigra ),\" borrowed from Greek s\u0233k\u00e1m\u012bnos, borrowed (with the initial syllable conformed to s\u0177kon \"fig\") from a Semitic source akin to Aramaic \u0161iqm\u012bn (plural) \"sycamore figs\" (Hebrew \u0161iqm\u0101h, plural \u0161iqm\u012bm )":"" }, "first_known_use":{ "1526, in the meaning defined above":"" }, "time_of_retrieval":"20220709-095210" }, "sycamore anthracnose":{ "type":[ "noun" ], "definitions":{ ": a disease of the sycamore caused by an ascomycetous fungus ( Gnomonia veneta ) and characterized by leaf and twig blight":[] }, "pronounciation":[], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{}, "first_known_use":{}, "time_of_retrieval":"20220710-054055" }, "sycon":{ "type":[ "adjective or noun", "noun" ], "definitions":{ ": a genus of calcareous sponges (family Sycettidae) having typical sycon structure":[], ": any sponge of the genus Sycon":[], ": a sponge or sponge larva in which the flagellated layer is restricted to more or less tubular outpouchings of the paragastric wall that are indirectly connected with the incurrent canals through lateral pores \u2014 compare ascon , leucon":[] }, "pronounciation":[ "\u02c8s\u012b\u02cck\u00e4n" ], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{ "New Latin, from Greek sykon fig":"" }, "first_known_use":{}, "time_of_retrieval":"20220710-073212" }, "Sycones":{ "type":[ "plural noun" ], "definitions":{ ": a group comprising the sycon sponges:":[], ": a group coextensive with Syconosa":[], ": a suborder of Syconosa":[] }, "pronounciation":[ "s\u012b\u02c8k\u014d(\u02cc)n\u0113z" ], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{ "New Latin, from plural of Sycon":"" }, "first_known_use":{}, "time_of_retrieval":"20220710-073655" }, "syconium":{ "type":[ "noun" ], "definitions":{ ": the multiple fleshy fruit of a fig in which the ovaries are borne within an enlarged succulent concave or hollow receptacle":[] }, "pronounciation":[ "s\u012b-\u02c8k\u014d-n\u0113-\u0259m" ], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{ "Latinization of French syc\u00f4ne, a vernacularized form of New Latin syconus, derivative of Greek s\u0177kon \"fig\" (probably erroneously construed as *sykon-, *s\u00fdk\u014dn, an n-stem, from which *syk\u1e53nion, Latinized as syconium, would be formally a diminutive) \u2014 more at fig entry 1":"" }, "first_known_use":{ "circa 1856, in the meaning defined above":"" }, "time_of_retrieval":"20220710-115824" }, "sycr":{ "type":[ "abbreviation" ], "definitions":{ "synchronize":[], "synchronizer":[] }, "pronounciation":[], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{}, "first_known_use":{}, "time_of_retrieval":"20220710-120715" }, "sycosis":{ "type":[ "noun" ], "definitions":{ ": a chronic inflammatory disorder of the hair follicles especially of the bearded part of the face":[] }, "pronounciation":[ "s\u012b-\u02c8k\u014d-s\u0259s" ], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{ "New Latin, from Greek syk\u014dsis , from sykon fig":"" }, "first_known_use":{ "circa 1827, in the meaning defined above":"" }, "time_of_retrieval":"20220710-183644" }, "sycophantic":{ "type":[ "adjective", "adverb" ], "definitions":{ ": of, relating to, or characteristic of a sycophant : fawning , obsequious":[ "sycophantic compliments" ] }, "pronounciation":[ "also \u02ccs\u012b-", "\u02ccsi-k\u0259-\u02c8fan-tik" ], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[ "Recent Examples on the Web", "The ever-incompetent Deep (Chace Crawford) taking over as head of crime analytics is what happens when an unqualified dictator installs sycophantic puppets in key positions around him. \u2014 Alex Raiman, EW.com , 17 June 2022", "The President of the United States (played by Meryl Streep) and her sycophantic son and Chief of Staff, Jason (played by Jonah Hill) are more interested in being re-elected. \u2014 Sheena Scott, Forbes , 26 Dec. 2021", "There\u2019s a sycophantic assistant who\u2019s a mincing clich\u00e9, and the white owner of a Japanese restaurant who speaks in broken English. \u2014 New York Times , 25 Nov. 2021", "On the track, a singer whom most believe to be the musician Cleo Sol croons about being trapped in a violent but sycophantic love affair. \u2014 Will Dukes, Rolling Stone , 9 Oct. 2021", "Still, Kendall has succeeded in putting his father in real jeopardy, scrambling for advice from his remaining children and sycophantic confidants on flights and tarmacs all over the Balkans. \u2014 Scott Tobias, Vulture , 17 Oct. 2021", "Bee has done numerous sycophantic interviews with prominent Democrats, however, such as former President Barack Obama, then-Sen. \u2014 Fox News , 11 Oct. 2021", "That was Donald Trump\u2019s assessment of the effort to recall Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom, during an appearance on the dutifully sycophantic network Newsmax. \u2014 Alex Shephard, The New Republic , 9 Sep. 2021", "The last of these \u2014 all drawn from the four episodes of the series that have aired \u2014 is a plotline featuring Max, Thomas Doherty\u2019s slick, sycophantic 17-year-old, who sets his sights on classics teacher Rafa Caparros (Jason Gotay). \u2014 Los Angeles Times , 29 July 2021" ], "history_and_etymology":{}, "first_known_use":{ "1676, in the meaning defined above":"" }, "time_of_retrieval":"20220711-100250" }, "sycophantical":{ "type":[ "adjective" ], "definitions":{ ": sycophantic":[] }, "pronounciation":[ "-t\u0259\u0307k\u0259l", "-t\u0113k-" ], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{ "Greek sykophantikos + English -al":"" }, "first_known_use":{}, "time_of_retrieval":"20220711-111226" }, "Syconosa":{ "type":[ "plural noun" ], "definitions":{ ": an order of Calcispongiae comprising simple syconoid sponges and others derived from this type":[] }, "pronounciation":[ "-\u014dz\u0259", "\u02ccs\u012bk\u0259\u02c8n\u014ds\u0259" ], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{ "New Latin, from Sycon + Latin -osa (neuter plural of -osus -ous)":"" }, "first_known_use":{}, "time_of_retrieval":"20220711-143249" }, "sychnocarpous":{ "type":[ "adjective" ], "definitions":{ ": able to produce fruit repeatedly : perennial":[] }, "pronounciation":[ "\u00a6sikn\u0259\u00a6k\u00e4rp\u0259s" ], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{ "Greek sychnos plentiful, frequent + English -carpous":"" }, "first_known_use":{}, "time_of_retrieval":"20220711-160213" }, "sycamore lace bug":{ "type":[ "noun" ], "definitions":{ ": a tingid bug ( Corythucha ciliata ) that is a serious pest on sycamores in North America":[] }, "pronounciation":[], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{}, "first_known_use":{}, "time_of_retrieval":"20220711-184616" }, "Sycettidae":{ "type":[ "plural noun" ], "definitions":{ ": a widely distributed family of calcareous sycon sponges \u2014 see sycetta , sycon":[] }, "pronounciation":[ "s\u0259\u0307\u02c8set\u0259\u02ccd\u0113" ], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{ "New Latin, from Sycetta , type genus + -idae":"" }, "first_known_use":{}, "time_of_retrieval":"20220711-193220" }, "Sycetta":{ "type":[ "noun" ], "definitions":{ ": a genus (the type of the family Sycettidae ) of primitive sycon sponges with the flagellated chambers opening directly into the paragaster":[] }, "pronounciation":[ "s\u0259\u0307\u02c8set\u0259" ], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{ "New Latin, from Sycon + Italian -etta , diminutive suffix (from Late Latin -ita , feminine of -itus )":"" }, "first_known_use":{}, "time_of_retrieval":"20220711-201555" }, "sycee":{ "type":[ "noun" ], "definitions":{ ": silver money made in the form of ingots and formerly used in China":[ "\u2014 often used before another noun sycee silver" ] }, "pronounciation":[ "\u02c8s\u012b-\u02ccs\u0113" ], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{ "Chinese (Guangdong) sai-s\u00ec , literally, fine silk":"" }, "first_known_use":{ "1711, in the meaning defined above":"" }, "time_of_retrieval":"20220711-222424" }, "sycamore maple":{ "type":[ "noun" ], "definitions":{ ": sycamore sense 2":[] }, "pronounciation":[], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{}, "first_known_use":{}, "time_of_retrieval":"20220711-225912" }, "sycophantly":{ "type":[ "adverb" ], "definitions":{ ": in a sycophantic manner":[] }, "pronounciation":[ "also \u02c8s\u012b-", "\u02c8si-k\u0259-f\u0259nt-l\u0113", "-\u02ccfant-" ], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{}, "first_known_use":{ "1672, in the meaning defined above":"" }, "time_of_retrieval":"20220711-230415" }, "syce":{ "type":[ "noun" ], "definitions":{ ": an attendant (such as a groom) especially in India":[] }, "pronounciation":[ "\u02c8s\u012bs" ], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{ "Hindi & Urdu s\u0101\u012bs , from Arabic s\u0101'is":"" }, "first_known_use":{ "1653, in the meaning defined above":"" }, "time_of_retrieval":"20220711-231039" }, "sycophantize":{ "type":[ "intransitive verb" ], "definitions":{ ": to play the sycophant":[] }, "pronounciation":[], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{ "sycophant entry 1 + -ize":"" }, "first_known_use":{}, "time_of_retrieval":"20220711-233317" }, "sycophantish":{ "type":[ "adjective", "adverb" ], "definitions":{ ": sycophantic":[] }, "pronounciation":[ "also \u02ccs\u012b-", "\u02ccsi-k\u0259-\u02c8fan-tish" ], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{}, "first_known_use":{ "1794, in the meaning defined above":"" }, "time_of_retrieval":"20220712-025925" }, "sycophancy":{ "type":[ "noun" ], "definitions":{}, "pronounciation":[ "-\u02ccfan(t)-", "also \u02c8s\u012b-", "\u02c8si-k\u0259-f\u0259n(t)-s\u0113" ], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[ "Recent Examples on the Web", "As De Stefano shows, the disorienting effects of fame fostered in her a dependence on sycophancy , but also a paranoid distrust even of her closest acolytes. \u2014 Jessica Winter, The New Yorker , 3 Mar. 2022", "According to the playwright, King George was driven mad by the spiritually enervating effects of the sycophancy of his toadying subordinates. \u2014 Terry Teachout, WSJ , 17 Aug. 2017", "Instead, the election devolved into mudslinging and sycophancy . \u2014 Geeta Anand, New York Times , 23 Mar. 2016" ], "history_and_etymology":{ "sycophan(t) + -cy , after Latin s\u0233cophantia, borrowed from Greek s\u0233kophant\u00eda, from s\u0233koph\u00e1nt\u0113s + -ia -ia entry 1":"" }, "first_known_use":{ "1637, in the meaning defined above":"" }, "time_of_retrieval":"20220712-032548" }, "sycophantism":{ "type":[ "noun" ], "definitions":{ ": sycophancy":[] }, "pronounciation":[ "-\u02ccfan-", "also \u02c8s\u012b-", "\u02c8si-k\u0259-f\u0259n-\u02ccti-z\u0259m" ], "synonyms":[], "antonyms":[], "synonym_discussion":"", "examples":[], "history_and_etymology":{}, "first_known_use":{ "1774, in the meaning defined above":"" }, "time_of_retrieval":"20220712-102450" } }