Sycophant

ˈsɪk.ə.fənt

noun

a person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage

The word 'sycophant' comes from the Greek word 'sykophantēs,' which originally referred to informers or slanderers in ancient Athens. Over time, it evolved to denote individuals who flatter or behave subserviently to gain favor or advantage.

But the sweetness of mercy brew’d bitter destruction, and the frighten’d monarchs come back, Each comes in state with his train, hangman, priest, tax-gatherer, Soldier, lawyer, lord, jailer, and sycophant.

Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass

Mendicancy: that of the fraudulent bankrupt with negligible assets paying ¹⁄₄d in the £, sandwichman, distributor of throwaways, nocturnal vagrant, insinuating sycophant, maimed sailor, blind stripling, superannuated bailiff’s man, marfeast, lickplate, spoilsport, pickthank, eccentric public laughingstock seated on bench of public park under discarded perforated umbrella.

James Joyce

Ulysses