1
as in to smooth
to make free from breaks, curves, or bumps
flattened out the wrinkled paper before attempting to trace the pattern
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to bury
to defeat by a large margin
if you don't understand the rules, you're going to get flattened when you try to play
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flatten
Everything is flattened into contrarianism and conspiracy theories, which is an effective way of capitalizing on the public’s rapidly declining trust in traditional journalism.
—
T. M. Brown, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2025
When threatened, gopher snakes often flatten their heads and hiss loudly, mimicking rattlesnakes to deter predators.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
The Field nocturnes and the active noise canceling of the headphones flattened all of life’s native sound and replaced it with thematically suggestive music.
—Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
Manufacturing was the main drag on growth, flattening after a 5% expansion in the second quarter.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flatten
T. M. Brown, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2025
When threatened, gopher snakes often flatten their heads and hiss loudly, mimicking rattlesnakes to deter predators.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
The Field nocturnes and the active noise canceling of the headphones flattened all of life’s native sound and replaced it with thematically suggestive music.
—Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
Manufacturing was the main drag on growth, flattening after a 5% expansion in the second quarter.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flatten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flatten
Verb
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The second photo was noticeably different from the first, instead showing a recent image of heavy machinery smoothing gravel where lush green grass once grew.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
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Want to smooth your hair without the heat tools?—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Alongside Moore, coach Bill Petersen had the sod buried to commemorate the win, and a tradition was born.—
Jordy Fee-Platt,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Archaeologists concluded the structure was actually a false tomb, or a cenotaph, a type of burial monument erected to honor a deceased person buried elsewhere.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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How Tielemans overcame early toils is often used as a source of encouragement by new additions who seem peripheral at first.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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Her mission is to be an example of overcoming adversity, reminding the world that true success comes from working with love, respect, and shining without dimming the light of others.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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When laundry day rolls around, simply throw the durable topper in the laundry with the rest of your bedding for easy maintenance and tumble dry with no heat.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
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And to be thrown into now this separation and exploding, blowing up her family this way.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
They are not whipped again, but after all of that research, I sure am beat.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
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Sarah Jessica Parker and Amy Sedaris were sitting front row, with Parker whipping out her phone to film Reese.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And this is the same thing all Gazans did after their homes were bombed or damaged.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Oct. 2025
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Israel had just bombed Iran, sparking a nearly two-week war during which 1,200 Iranians and 31 Israelis were killed.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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It's designed to match players of similar skills into game lobbies and create a gameplay experience that doesn't pit new or casual players against hard-core players or pros who will likely annihilate them.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
18 Oct. 2025
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But when a sector dwindles to five companies—or four, or three, or two, or just one—the collective action problem is annihilated by the inevitable coziness among the executives of the incestuous industries.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Invasive plants like giant salvinia can completely smother the shallow portions of lakes, choking out all life and blocking user access.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Oct. 2025
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Over time, it was smothered by sand brought in to replenish the beach.—
Greg Allen,
NPR,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flatten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flatten. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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