sycophant
SIK-uh-funtnounMeaning a person who flatters powerful people to get ahead
Memory hook SYCO-FAN: a flattering FAN. Rex follows the champion around shouting, “You’re the GREATEST! Can I carry your trophy?” He does it only to win favors; he is a sycophant.
The king’s court was crowded with sycophants who praised every word he said.
In context Instead of warning the boss that her plan had serious problems, the sycophant praised it loudly, hoping to win the promotion.
Similar flatterer, toady, yes-man, bootlicker
Opposite critic
From Greek sykophantes, literally “one who shows the fig”; no one is sure how it came to mean a flatterer.