flattering

adjective

flat·​ter·​ing ˈfla-tər-iŋ 

1

: marked by flattery: such as

a

: showing or expressing gratifying respect or admiration

a flattering comparison

His colleagues might have disowned him, but they didn't receive flattering invitations to speak all over the country and to write for The New York Times.

—Richard Dawkins

b

: excessively or insincerely complimentary

… a steady stream of ham actors, all of whom were welcomed with flattering speeches.

—H. L. Mencken

2

: helping to enhance attractiveness

a necktie in a flattering color

… dictating the most flattering camera angles.

—David Margolick

The gowns were indeed smashing: smart, sexy, eye-catching, and very, very flattering.

—The New Yorker

flatteringly adverb

The so-called Generation X has been described by some—not flatteringly—as a scavenger culture that gathers music, art and fashions from recent past generations rather than creating its own.

—Steve Hochman

Her upper body is all besuited business—the black jacket, the white blouse reflecting flatteringly on the face, the understated silver choker and earrings, the burnished brown bob.

—Rebecca Mead

Examples of flattering in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This dress is so flattering, with a wrap-style bust and cinched waist. —Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 17 June 2025

Needless to say, the comparison was more flattering than Auckland City against Bayern the previous day. —Phil Hay, New York Times, 17 June 2025

The Russian propaganda machine has some flexibility, but being locked in an existential struggle with the Netherlands is far less flattering to the imperial mindset than going up against the world’s leading superpower. —Andrew Ryvkin, The Atlantic, 16 June 2025

The Northern Irishman shot a not very flattering 4-over 74 in the first round of the 2025 US Open, and his performance has only worsened during the second round. —Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing flattering

• self-flattering

Rhymes for flattering

• battering
• chattering
• clattering
• pattering
• scattering
• shattering
• smattering
• spattering
• backscattering
• unflattering