flatter

verb flat·ter \ ˈfla-tər \

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 4

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

—

flatteringly

play \ˈfla-tər-iŋ-lē\ adverb

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

Ever-flattering pink is most popular with 41 percent of sales, which makes sense.

— rachel nussbaum, Glamour, "These Are the Most Popular Drugstore Lipstick Shades Across America," 28 July 2017
Jimmy Kimmel was flattered when a 13-year-old named Will Rubin from Media, Pennsylvania centered his bar mitzvah theme around Kimmel's eponymous ABC late-night show.

— lorena o'neil, The Hollywood Reporter, "Jon Stewart Crashes Jimmy Kimmel's Interview to Tease Young Fan," 14 July 2017
Paris (CNN)France will treat President Donald Trump to an elaborate military display on Friday, a strategic show of friendship by the new leader here who hopes to elevate his country's global standing by flattering his US counterpart.

— kevin liptak, CNN, "France puts on military show as Trump marks Bastille Day in Paris," 14 July 2017
The eccentric bon vivant who once strode across the global stage being flattered by sport and political leaders eager to capture his World Cup hosting vote died in disgrace on Wednesday at age 72.

— tom hays, courant.com, "Blazer Dies After Exposing Global Soccer Corruption He Profited From," 13 July 2017
From chic one-shoulder designs to sporty looks, like Moschino's heather gray jersey zip-front suit to Dolce & Gabbana's '40s-inspired nautical striped suit, the one-piece is flattering on every body type.

— rebecca aydin, chicagotribune.com, "Summer's best one-piece swimsuits," 13 July 2017
Spenzer might have been flattered by the comparison to the famous English sleuth.

— cleveland.com, "John Spenzer, Cleveland's first forensic scientist, loomed large 100 years ago (photos)," 9 July 2017
The new S7 has the same scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass front and back with aluminum frame, this time with a curved and flatter back.

— the good housekeeping institute, Good Housekeeping, "Samsung Gear VR with Controller," 27 June 2017
Well aware of Lacey's troubled reputation, Carine attempts to lend support by befriending Bill, who's flattered by the attention and starts to emerge from his chronic lethargy.

— justin lowe, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The Bachelors': Film Review | LAFF 2017," 23 June 2017

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

flatter

noun

Definition of flatter

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

Recent Examples of flatter from the Web

Spring and damper firmness also is increased at all four corners, and the anti-roll bars are thickened for flatter, more precise handling.

— alexander stoklosa, Car and Driver, "2017 Hyundai Elantra Sport Manual," 5 Aug. 2017
Grace Kelly, Jane Berkin and Angelica Huston are examples of women with style that both flatters and endures the test of time.

— kirby adams, The Courier-Journal, "We all know (and hate) that person who looks effortlessly classic. How to steal the look.," 28 July 2017
We like Diamond Crystal for its larger, flatter flakes.

— alex delany, Bon Appetit, "The 10 Staples to Always Keep in Your Pantry," 24 July 2017
In response to their suggestions, this year's event will feature a flatter, straighter course.

— margarita cambest, baltimoresun.com, "Towson's Fourth of July race still accepting entries," 30 June 2017
The artist and landscape architect have agreed to redesign the project for the flatter and more narrow space, Peters said.

— sandra baker, star-telegram.com, "Artwork spelling out ‘Fort Worth’ along highway hits another pothole," 12 June 2017
Modern humans are distinguishable from, say, Neanderthals by our flatter, more delicate faces and our more globular crania, which encase larger and more complex brains.

— alan burdick, The New Yorker, "The Oldest Human Fossils Ever Discovered Have Stories to Tell," 7 June 2017
Reds are modern, but are prone to mimic signs of sickness — or rosacea. Peaches, on the other hand, flatter every skin tone, and — better yet — every skill level.

— ashley weatherford, The Cut, "The Best Blush Is a Korean ‘Tension’ Blush," 15 May 2017
Some mistake the flatter, smoother feel of nitrogen for strength and weight, says Todd Usry, president and brewmaster of Breckenridge Brewery.

— matt allyn, Popular Mechanics, "Why Stouts Are Much More Than Just a St. Patrick's Day Tradition," 16 Mar. 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