flatter

1 of 2

verb

flat·​ter ˈfla-tər How to pronounce flatter (audio)
flattered; flattering; flatters
Synonyms of flatter

transitive verb

1
: to praise excessively especially from motives of self-interest
He flattered her with comments about how well she'd done.
2
archaic : beguile sense 2
3
a
: to encourage or gratify by showing respect or admiration
They flattered me by asking me to speak.
b
: to congratulate (oneself) with respect to something
I flatter myself that my interpretation is correct.
4
a
: to portray too favorably
The portrait flatters him.
b
: to display to advantage
Candlelight often flatters the face.
flatterer noun

flatter

2 of 2

noun

: one that flattens
especially : a flat-faced swage used in smithing

Examples of flatter in a Sentence

Verb He flattered her with comments about her youthful appearance. It flattered her to be asked to sing at their wedding. That dress really flatters your figure.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Major tech companies, including Block, Amazon, and Google, are drastically cutting middle management, often citing AI and a shift to flatter organizational structures. Cindy Rodriguez Constable, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 If fee-paying students were becoming increasingly integral to the financial solvency of universities, what were administrators to do but treat them as customers to flatter and court, rather than as minds to mold? Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Noun
Expansion battery integration also proved cleaner than expected, with flatter, easier-to-manage expansion cables that avoid some of the awkward cable clutter commonly associated with scalable backup ecosystems. Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 29 June 2026 Scale flatters; resilience protects. Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for flatter

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English flateren, from Anglo-French flater to lap, flatter, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German flaz flat

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1714, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of flatter was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flatter. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

flatter

verb
flat·​ter
ˈflat-ər
1
: to praise too much and not sincerely
2
: to judge oneself as better than another
I flatter myself on my skill in dancing
3
: to represent too attractively
a picture that flatters me
flatterer
-ər-ər
noun
flatteringly
-ə-riŋ-lē
adverb

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