SportsJuly 31, 2026
sycophancy
SIK-uh-fan-see
Definition
The act of behaving in a servile, fawning, or insincere way toward someone of power or influence in order to gain advantage or favor.
Etymology
The word comes from the Greek 'sykophantēs', which originally meant 'an informer' or 'a slanderer,' literally 'one who shows or reveals the fig' (suko- + phainein). By the 16th century, it entered English with its modern connotation of a self-seeking flatterer.
In the news
The article uses the word to highlight the lack of subservient, fawning behavior shown by the IOC president toward Donald Trump, contrasting this with the sycophancy displayed by other officials.
Ominous shadow of Donald Trump already looming over 2028 LA Olympics
Read the full article ↗Irish Examiner