1
: in a blunt and direct manner : openly
called flat out for revolution—
Nat'l Review
Nat'l Review2
: at top speed or peak performance
the car does 180 m.p.h. flat out
3
usually flat-out
: absolutely, downright
—usually used as an intensive
is just flat-out confusing
Examples of flat-out in a Sentence
Adjective
regarded their son-in-law as a flat-out loser and let him know it
Adverb
I told him flat out that I have no intention of marrying him.
We asked for more time but they refused us flat out.
The car does 180 mph flat out.
Recent Examples on the Web
Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 28 Aug. 2025
First, the claim that Passkeys Pwned shows that passkeys can be stolen is flat-out wrong.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2025
Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2025
And then obviously everyone's working flat out back in the factory.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for flat-out
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Ruffalo is poignantly haunted as Tom, and Pelphrey is flat-out extraordinary, channeling Robbie’s pain into something heart-wrenching and beautiful.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 28 Aug. 2025
First, the claim that Passkeys Pwned shows that passkeys can be stolen is flat-out wrong.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2025
Adverb
Anyone who tells you the Dolphins offense looked good today is a flat out liar.
—Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2025
And then obviously everyone's working flat out back in the factory.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for flat-out
Cite this Entry
“Flat-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flat-out. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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