[Vocabulary] syncophant vs sycophant

[patran]

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.


Regards

Anthony the learner

 

[Merle Tenney]

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

 

[Raymott]

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.


Regards

Anthony the learner

Urban Dictionary: syncophant

 

[bhaisahab]

Urban Dictionary: syncophant

I particularly like the second part of definition #2.;-)

 

[Tdol]

I have never heard or come across anyone using syncophant.

 

[SoothingDave]

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