flattered; flattering; flatters
1
: to praise excessively especially from motives of self-interest
He flattered her with comments about how youthful she looks.
2
a
archaic
: beguile sense 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.
: 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
Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
To me, more pragmatism means moving away from the corrupt, capricious policies of the current administration, such as crony capitalism that imposes bogus tariffs on free trade, punishing leaders and countries the president dislikes while favoring those who flatter him.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Claire Gallam, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2025
Looking at comparable players, Tatis has top-quartile bat speed and a 30-degree swing tilt — a swing that’s on the flatter end but not as flat as the swings for Randy Arozarena or Corbin Carroll.
—Eno Sarris, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flatter
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Verb
An Amazon reviewer raved about how soft and flattering the material of the dress is.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
To me, more pragmatism means moving away from the corrupt, capricious policies of the current administration, such as crony capitalism that imposes bogus tariffs on free trade, punishing leaders and countries the president dislikes while favoring those who flatter him.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
The smocked bodice is super forgiving, and the A-line silhouette flatters every shape.
—Claire Gallam, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2025
Looking at comparable players, Tatis has top-quartile bat speed and a 30-degree swing tilt — a swing that’s on the flatter end but not as flat as the swings for Randy Arozarena or Corbin Carroll.
—Eno Sarris, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flatter
Cite this Entry
“Flatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flatter. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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