flatter

verb flat·ter \ ˈfla-tər \

Updated on: 21 Apr 2018

Definition of flatter

transitive verb

1 : to praise excessively especially from motives of self-interest

He flattered her with comments about how youthful she looks.

2 a archaic : beguile 2

b : to encourage or gratify especially with the assurance that something is right

I flatter myself that my interpretation is correct.

3 a : to portray too favorably

The portrait flatters him.

b : to display to advantage

Candlelight often flatters the face.

intransitive verb

: to use flattery

—

flatterer

play \ˈfla-tər-ər\ noun

See flatter defined for English-language learners

See flatter defined for kids

Examples of flatter in a Sentence

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 of flatter from the Web

The uproar regarding LeBron James and barbershop videos has taken on another layer, and one not flattering to the NBA superstar.

— creg stephenson, AL.com, "LeBron James being sued over barbershop video idea, report says," 16 Apr. 2018
The apricot undertones in this shade are especially flattering for those with warm complexions, drawing attention to your eyes and brightening them up so your natural color really pops.

— lauren hubbard, Teen Vogue, "The Best Beauty Looks From EXO-CBX Blooming Day Music Video," 10 Apr. 2018
Costa sealed the victory, which flattered the visitors, with less than ten minutes left, with an outstanding blast from outside the box.

— SI.com, "Benevento 2-4 Juventus: Dybala Hat-Trick Saves Juventus From Witches' Curse," 7 Apr. 2018
Proving to be one of 2014's biggest hair trends, the lob flatters most faces and of course, Jerry Hall is no exception.

— lauren alexis fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "Jerry Hall Cuts Her Iconic Hair," 24 Feb. 2014
My main beef is with the Toliman hoodie ($150), which claims to be unisex but is clearly cut with a long, narrow torso in mind and is not flattering on a petite, curvy woman’s figure.

— ariella gintzler, Outside Online, "Cotopaxi's Flashy, Functional New Activewear," 28 Mar. 2018
Hundreds reacted on social media, and the response was quick, funny and less than flattering....although Gano did get a lot of compliments on his legs.

— mark price, charlotteobserver, "Panthers kicker Graham Gano models world's ugliest pair of shorts | Charlotte Observer," 21 Mar. 2018
Reserve Bank of Australia chief Philip Lowe last year said population growth was flattering economic data.

— jason scott, Bloomberg.com, "The Secret to Australia Avoiding Recession: Mass Immigration," 12 Mar. 2018
Lately, though, Krauss has received less than flattering attention.

— anne ryman, azcentral, "ASU Professor Lawrence Krauss put on leave amid allegations of sexual misconduct," 6 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flatter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of flatter

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

flatter Synonyms

Synonyms

adulate, blarney, butter up, hero-worship, honey, massage, overpraise, puff, soft-soap, stroke;

Near Antonyms

bad-mouth, belittle, decry, depreciate, disparage, put down;

fawn, kowtow, suck (up to), toady;

idolize, worship;

eulogize, extol (also extoll), laud, praise;

applaud, commend, compliment;

congratulate, felicitate;

drool, gush, slaver, slobber;

endear, ingratiate;

court, romance, woo;

flatter

noun

Definition of flatter

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

Recent Examples of flatter from the Web

Google went one step further, with its Material Design that included bright colors, playful transitions, and a much flatter and simplified interface.

— tom warren, The Verge, "I miss Windows Phone," 7 Apr. 2018
The world is flat, make that flatter, compared to just a couple of decades ago.

— michal lev-ram, Fortune, "Is Globalization a Double-Edged Sword in Healthcare?," 19 Mar. 2018
In some cases, the surgeon also removed excess skin, to create a flatter, firmer chest.

— eric pianin, Washington Post, "Why some men are asking for breast-reduction surgery," 6 Mar. 2018
There’s a mountain range to my left and a mountain range to my right and in between a plain flatter than Kansas where crop and sky meet.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "The Couple Who Turned a California Desert Into a Multi-Billion Dollar Snack Empire," 6 Feb. 2018
Now squash that sphere down so that it's still rounded, but flatter.

— john timmer, Ars Technica, "Odd, potato-shaped dwarf planet has ring, may not be a planet," 11 Oct. 2017
We like Diamond Crystal for its larger, flatter flakes.

— alex delany, Bon Appetit, "The 10 Staples to Always Keep in Your Pantry," 19 July 2017
To do otherwise, to embellish, to fudge, to alter, or to flatter was a flashy, dishonest trick.

— brian t. allen, National Review, "What Is American about American Art," 2 Sep. 2017
Part of the reason that the curve got flatter is that members of each party started heading to the poles.

— philip bump, Washington Post, "The political divide in the United States, animated," 23 Oct. 2017

First Known Use of flatter

1714

Other Hardware Terms

adze, auger, awl, chock, ferrule, punch, tang

FLATTER Defined for English Language Learners

flatter

verb

Definition of flatter for English Language Learners

: to praise (someone) in a way that is not sincere
: to cause (someone) to feel pleased by showing respect, affection, or admiration
: to show or describe (someone or something) in a way that is very favorable or too favorable

FLATTER Defined for Kids

flatter

verb flat·ter \ ˈfla-tər \

Definition of flatter for Students

flattered; flattering

1 : to praise but not sincerely

“You haven't changed since the day we met,” Grandpa flattered Grandma.

2 : to cause to feel pleased by showing respect or admiration

I was flattered to be asked to sing at the wedding.

3 : to show as favorably as possible

This picture flatters me.

4 : to make look more attractive

That dress flatters you.

—

flatterer

noun

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See words that rhyme with flatter Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for flatter Spanish Central: Translation of flatter Nglish: Translation of flatter for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of flatter for Arabic speakers

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flatter

Definition of flatter

flatterer

Examples of flatter in a Sentence

Recent Examples of flatter from the Web

Origin and Etymology of flatter

flatter Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

flatter

Definition of flatter

Recent Examples of flatter from the Web

First Known Use of flatter

Other Hardware Terms

Phrases Related to FLATTER

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FLATTER Defined for English Language Learners

flatter

Definition of flatter for English Language Learners

FLATTER Defined for Kids

flatter

Definition of flatter for Students

flatterer

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