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
Synonyms
Adjective
- absolute
- all-out
- arrant
- blank
- blooming [chiefly British]
- bodacious [Southern & Midland]
- categorical
- categoric
- clean
- complete
- consummate
- crashing
- damn
- damned
- dead
- deadly
- definite
- downright
- dreadful
- fair
- flat
- out-and-out
- outright
- perfect
- plumb
- profound
- pure
- rank
- regular
- sheer
- simple
- stark
- stone
- straight-out
- thorough
- thoroughgoing
- total
- unadulterated
- unalloyed
- unconditional
- unmitigated
- unqualified
- utter
- very
Examples of flat-out in a Sentence
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 WebJill Schlesinger, The Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2024
And the percentage of Republicans who say Trump usually makes flat-out false claims dipped down to 8% from 14%.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
In each episode, a celebrity panel will try to identify the real married couple from the ones who are flat-out lying – and, in fact, have just met for the very first time on that same day.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
As the interview continues, Andrew’s responses shift from controversial to flat-out absurd.
—Armani Syed, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
With 27 tracks spanning 78 minutes, the album is a payload of provocation and flat-out astonishing music that will take a while to fully digest.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2024
The first two are flat-out icons, while Moroney is one of the most talented and promising new talents to be found in any genre.
—Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2024
Trump’s baseless accusations and his flat-out lies are as essential to his public identity as are his tales of financial derring-do, his coarse language, his prejudices and his listing toward autocracy.
—Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
The stage was set for the Fourth, whose five movements add up to a summa of Bartók’s art, by turns tenaciously labored, sinuously swirling, nocturnally eerie, pizzicato-punchy, and flat-out wild.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Netanyahu appears to just be flat out ignoring President Biden's warning about an offensive in Rafah.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2024
Beijing has been struggling to restore confidence in the country’s ailing real estate industry and appears to be working flat out to prevent China Vanke going the way of Evergrande and Country Garden, which both defaulted on their debts and are at risk of being liquidated.
—Laura He, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024
Still, some Senate Republicans had reservations about moving forward with the aid package without border security provisions, while others rejected the package flat out, throwing the legislation's path forward into question.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2024
Babies are constantly lifting the bib up, tugging it off, and just flat out dipping their sleeves in their food.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 1 Feb. 2024
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said flat out that the bill is going nowhere.
—Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 6 Feb. 2024
Anthony Edwards flat out declined to shoot for much of the night, instead choosing to bump up his assist tally while focusing on getting Towns as many points as possible.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 23 Jan. 2024
Birch Benders Organic Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix Fresh grains, a big hit of tangy buttermilk and just a touch of sugar make these moist, fluffy pancakes flat out delicious.
—Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2024
Adjective
There are usually two types of people who wait until the bitter end before the April 15 tax deadline to file their returns: Those who owe money to the government and the folks who are flat-out procrastinators.
—Jill Schlesinger, The Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2024
And the percentage of Republicans who say Trump usually makes flat-out false claims dipped down to 8% from 14%.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
In each episode, a celebrity panel will try to identify the real married couple from the ones who are flat-out lying – and, in fact, have just met for the very first time on that same day.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
As the interview continues, Andrew’s responses shift from controversial to flat-out absurd.
—Armani Syed, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
With 27 tracks spanning 78 minutes, the album is a payload of provocation and flat-out astonishing music that will take a while to fully digest.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2024
The first two are flat-out icons, while Moroney is one of the most talented and promising new talents to be found in any genre.
—Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2024
Trump’s baseless accusations and his flat-out lies are as essential to his public identity as are his tales of financial derring-do, his coarse language, his prejudices and his listing toward autocracy.
—Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
The stage was set for the Fourth, whose five movements add up to a summa of Bartók’s art, by turns tenaciously labored, sinuously swirling, nocturnally eerie, pizzicato-punchy, and flat-out wild.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Adverb
Positions are won out there; some guys attack it and do a great job and some guys just flat out fold.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Netanyahu appears to just be flat out ignoring President Biden's warning about an offensive in Rafah.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2024
Beijing has been struggling to restore confidence in the country’s ailing real estate industry and appears to be working flat out to prevent China Vanke going the way of Evergrande and Country Garden, which both defaulted on their debts and are at risk of being liquidated.
—Laura He, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024
Still, some Senate Republicans had reservations about moving forward with the aid package without border security provisions, while others rejected the package flat out, throwing the legislation's path forward into question.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2024
Babies are constantly lifting the bib up, tugging it off, and just flat out dipping their sleeves in their food.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 1 Feb. 2024
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said flat out that the bill is going nowhere.
—Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 6 Feb. 2024
Anthony Edwards flat out declined to shoot for much of the night, instead choosing to bump up his assist tally while focusing on getting Towns as many points as possible.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 23 Jan. 2024
Birch Benders Organic Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix Fresh grains, a big hit of tangy buttermilk and just a touch of sugar make these moist, fluffy pancakes flat out delicious.
—Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flat-out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Flat-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flat-out. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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