flat-out 1 of 2

adjective

ˈflat-ˌau̇t How to pronounce flat-out (audio)
Definition of flat-outnext
as in utter
having no exceptions or restrictions regarded their son-in-law as a flat-out loser and let him know it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flat-out

2 of 2

adverb

as in absolutely

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flat-out
Adjective
Stanford, after beating Hawaii in a Week 0 opener, got flat-out steamrolled in this ACC matchup. — Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026 The Cannes crowd flat-out loved this tweaking of an old cinematic trope. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 2 Sep. 2026 Unlike many stars of their generation who flat-out refuse personal questions, Holland and Zendaya have mastered the art of bringing it back to their respective movies. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 31 July 2026 Every Southern college student has a family member who’s superstitiously tossed (or flat-out burned) their jersey after a bad game, or still hasn’t gotten over a SEC Championship loss decades later. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for flat-out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flat-out
  1. utter
  2. absolutely
  3. sheer
  4. downright
  5. absolute
  6. completely
  7. unconditional
  8. utterly
Adjective
  • Popular at American Chinese or Cajun-style Chinese restaurants, the sticky-sweet chicken is the utter definition of delicious, luring weary shoppers into food courts to find refuge from the bubblegum pink sweatpants and ripped denim.
    — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026
  • There’s a wonderful fraction of a second when the Villa fans in the Holte End have to adjust from impending despair to utter joy.
    — Amitai Winehouse, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of utter
Adverb
  • On Wednesday’s conference call, Zuckerberg and Li can be heard absolutely salivating at the money to be made this way, as Muse gets marketed toward ubiquity.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Know More The Senate race is absolutely everywhere in Iowa, which is also home to three competitive House races and a governor’s race (Democrat Rob Sand is now favored to defeat Republican Zach Lahn).
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of absolutely
Adjective
  • The tracks, the engineers, the data, the media attention, the sheer amount of racing—the Formula 1 World Championship consists of twenty-plus races, on five continents, in nine months.
    — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The silhouette was mostly formfitting and streamlined, with emphasis at the hips and waist and a continuation of the contrasting sheer, black fabric running down the column skirt.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of sheer
Adverb
  • Yes, the same Cowboys who have looked downright awful in their four losses.
    — Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
  • It’s always caught our attention for features alone, but the specs at this sale price are downright spectacular.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of downright
Adjective
  • The slap on the wrist capped an otherwise strong Celtics debut for the nine-time All-Star, who was putting on an absolute clinic.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The Milanese Suite combines elegance and spaciousness with absolute comfort.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of absolute
Adverb
  • By the 2120s, the entire labyrinth will be completely backfilled, sealed, and handed over to the state.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Simone…commanded a room, captivating audiences with unexpected combinations of genres and her ability to surrender herself completely to the music.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of completely
Adjective
  • Here, the defining aspect of Benjamin Button’s strange existence is love — lucky, steady, unconditional.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
  • In 2024, Michigan State launched Rx Kids, the country’s first universal and unconditional prenatal and infant cash program.
    — Mona Hanna, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of unconditional
Adverb
  • The general trivia and straight clues are also tough, and there’s a good amount of novelty, including 11 debut entries, a few oddballs among them, and one utterly brutal misdirect that significantly spiced up my solving experience.
    — Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • And, of course, a finish that left me utterly speechless on multiple different levels.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of utterly

Browse Nearby Words

flatness
flat-out
flats
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Cite this Entry

“Flat-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flat-out. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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