Sycophants (Correct): This word originates from the Greek sykophantēs, but in English, the "k" sound is represented by a 'c'. A sycophant is someone who flatters influential people to gain an advantage (often called a "flatterer" or "yes-man").
Ridiculous (Correct): Means deserving mockery or being absurd. A common mistake is spelling it as "rediculous," but "ri-" is the correct prefix.
Occasionally (Correct): Means at infrequent intervals. This is a very frequent exam word—remember it has double 'c' and single 's'.
Portrayed (Correct): The past tense of "portray," meaning to depict or describe.
