Sinecurist synonyms

Question

So my native language has a word whose definition is

a person who has become a public sector employee through a nepotistic relationship or political party affiliation, normally without the required skills or qualifications for that position.

I was trying to think of a word in English which at least partially covers this meaning. All I could think of was a sinecurist, but does anyone have any other suggestions? Preferably something a bit more informal and derogatory.

user20568 · Answer

I'd suggest "sycophant" (a "'yes' man."  A "yes man" is a person who always answers "yes" to their supervisor's desires, whims, or decisions, even when they're wrong.
If you want to get a bit more informal, a "suck up" or a "kiss up," is a person who always tries to please a supervisor.  Both terms are derogatory, because they imply kissing or sucking somebody's rear end.
A supervisor is a person higher-up in corporate hierarchy or rank.  Imagine climbing a ladder, and a supervisor or boss is farther up on the ladder than you are.  You would normally stay far enough behind to avoid bumping into that person's behind.  A kiss up or a suck up would be willing to kiss that rear end.
That's where we come to the term that's even more derogatory: a "brown noser" describes a person who is such a kiss up or suck up that, using the ladder analogy, they're willing to crawl up the ladder of success, even if it means putting their face right in a supervisor's behind, and getting their excrement on their nose.

Sinecurist synonyms

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