flattered; flattering; flatters
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.
: to use flattery
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
Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026
Raphael’s father could manage people below him but also, as a courtier who wrote an entire epic about the life and exploits of Duke Federico, flatter the powerful above him.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
Sometimes, instead of simply answering a question, these systems go out of their way to agree, flatter, or soften their responses to sound supportive.
—Larry Magid, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flatter
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Verb
It’s made from a blend of polyester and spandex, which results in a feather-light weight and a slightly stretchy silhouette to flatter your figure.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026
Raphael’s father could manage people below him but also, as a courtier who wrote an entire epic about the life and exploits of Duke Federico, flatter the powerful above him.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
For flatter, crispier cookies, bake the cookie dough rounds immediately.
—Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
Sometimes, instead of simply answering a question, these systems go out of their way to agree, flatter, or soften their responses to sound supportive.
—Larry Magid, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flatter
Cite this Entry
“Flatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flatter. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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