[Vocabulary] syncophant vs sycophant

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patran

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Dear Teachers

I found the words "syncophant" and "sycophant" having very similar meanings. What is the main difference in using these two words? Please advise.


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Anthony the learner
 

Merle Tenney

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It's kind of like regardless and irregardless. Both forms are found, and they mean the same thing, but only regardless is correct.

The correct form is sycophant, which is found in every major dictionary. Syncophant is only found in Wordnik, which only documents usage, not correctness. Also, "a sycophant" has 209K hits on Google; "a syncophant" has just 8K hits.

Bottom line: use sycophant.

Merle
 

Tdol

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I have never heard or come across anyone using syncophant.
 

SoothingDave

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I guess a synchrophant would suck up to you on a regular basis.
 
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