1
as in to smooth
to make free from breaks, curves, or bumps
flattened out the wrinkled paper before attempting to trace the pattern
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to bury
to defeat by a large margin
if you don't understand the rules, you're going to get flattened when you try to play
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flatten
Instead of flattening the forms, the museum’s lighting scheme accentuates textures, drawing out the etched surfaces, gouges, and contours that make Giacometti’s work so tactile.
—
Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
In 1976: One of the deadliest earthquakes in modern history flattened the Tangshan region of China.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 29 July 2025
The city was flattened during World War II, when some 80,000 Rotterdammers were left homeless after a single night of the German air raids.
—Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 27 July 2025
And that kind of diversification also flattens out the calendar, right?
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for flatten
Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
In 1976: One of the deadliest earthquakes in modern history flattened the Tangshan region of China.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 29 July 2025
The city was flattened during World War II, when some 80,000 Rotterdammers were left homeless after a single night of the German air raids.
—Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 27 July 2025
And that kind of diversification also flattens out the calendar, right?
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for flatten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flatten
Verb
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Therapeutic Botox – used for conditions that include muscle spasticity, migraines, overactive bladders, certain eye conditions and excessive sweating – brought in $3.3 billion for AbbVie last year, with sales of cosmetic Botox, often used to smooth facial wrinkles, generating $2.72 billion.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
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Card networks and domestic wallet apps have smoothed many edges, yet many of those wallets still use the same traditional systems.—
Alvin Kan,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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You were supposed to bury sentiment, cut the cord and fully inhabit your current, non-customizable uniform right down to your plain black cleats.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
23 Aug. 2025
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The very next possession, fellow punter Ryan Wright cleanly handled a snap and hold, and Reichard buried a 58 yarder.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Pointing to a legal analysis weighing reasons why the FTC's antitrust claims might not hold up in court, Olson suggested that the FTC is unlikely to overcome constitutional protections and win its ad war on the merits.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
22 Aug. 2025
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The eventual winner will have to overcome astronomical odds of 1 in 292.2 million to win the Powerball jackpot.—
Siladitya Ray,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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There were about two dozen people throwing fists aboard the Sunshine around 2 a.m. on Monday (Aug. 18).—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
21 Aug. 2025
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Stanton is getting time there because Aaron Judge is recovering from an elbow injury and there are mixed messages about how much throwing the two-time MVP can do at this point.—
Larry Fleisher,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The game is a gonzo Kojima production through and through, tonally whipping between self-serious conversations about the nature of war and patriotism, and villains who can shoot lighting from their hands or morph into a swarm of bees.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
22 Aug. 2025
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The newest Netflix documentary will surely make viewers want to whip it good.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Russia's insistence on a peace agreement rather than a ceasefire appears to be a strategic maneuver designed to prolong hostilities and allow Russia to continue bombing Ukrainian cities.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Aug. 2025
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Its time at Sony wasn’t very fruitful; Biblical comedy The Book of Clarence bombed, as did the action comedy The Machine.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The dawn of the cable age blew up those distinctions, of course, and then the streaming revolution annihilated it.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
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KPop Demon Hunters is annihilating records while inspiring us to ponder surprisingly philosophical questions.—
Amy Sterling,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
Verb
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Colson smothered Fisk just short of the first-down marker after Fisk made the reception.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
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Additional lightning strikes from these types of clouds could set off new blazes or reignite areas crews have already smothered.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flatten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flatten. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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