Basic Details
Word: Sycophantic
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Behaving in a way that shows excessive praise or flattery towards someone, often to gain favour or advantages.
Synonyms: Obsequious, servile, flattering
Antonyms: Frank, candid, straightforward
Idioms and Phrases
- Butter someone up: To flatter someone excessively in order to gain their favour. Example: "He was really buttering up the teacher to get a better grade."
- Brown-noser: A person who tries too hard to please important people, often by being sycophantic. Example: "He's such a brown-noser; always complimenting the boss in meetings."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Her sycophantic behaviour towards her manager made her colleagues uncomfortable.
Example 2: The artist grew tired of the sycophantic critics who only praised him for commercial reasons.
Example 3: Being sycophantic to your friends can damage your relationships if they sense insincerity.
Fun Fact
The word "sycophant" comes from ancient Greece, where it referred to someone who brought false accusations against others, often for personal gain. The modern meaning has evolved to describe someone who flatters excessively.
Famous Quote
"The greatest way to live with honour in this world is to be what we pretend to be." - Socrates. This relates to the idea that being genuine is more valuable than being sycophantic.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "sycophantic" mean?
a) Honest and straightforward
b) Excessively flattering to gain favour
c) Timid and shy
d) Creative and artistic
Answer: b) Excessively flattering to gain favour
2. Which of these is a synonym of "sycophantic"?
a) Candid
b) Obsequious
c) Honest
d) Independent
Answer: b) Obsequious
3. Which of the following is an antonym of "sycophantic"?
a) Flattering
b) Frank
c) Obliging
d) Fawning
Answer: b) Frank
4. Which sentence uses "sycophantic" correctly?
a) The sycophantic student always asked genuine questions in class.
b) The sycophantic movie was praised for its storytelling.
c) His sycophantic remarks didn’t impress anyone.
d) She found a sycophantic book at the library.
Answer: c) His sycophantic remarks didn’t impress anyone.
5. Which idiom means the same as "sycophantic"?
a) Butter someone up
b) Jump on the bandwagon
c) Stuck between a rock and a hard place
d) The grass is always greener on the other side
Answer: a) Butter someone up
