1
as in smoothing
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 whipping
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 flattening
Wilson’s achievement is to bring these meanings forward without flattening the poem’s strangeness or grandeur.
—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
The answer to modern public life is not flattening everything into slogans or reducing politics to content.
—
Marc Adelman,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
Grant asks Chris about the boxing gloves now for sale in the night store, but Katie forestalls him by running over and grabbing them, nearly flattening Chris.
—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
The ambition is to ensure that AI reflects the identity of the organisation using it, rather than flattening those differences.
—
Heather Farmbrough,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
This can include flattening the hill, raking or shoveling the mound, or even using a garden hose to flood the area.
—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
4 June 2026
The Hurricanes went 12-1, flattening opponents by applying the kind of smooth, inevitable pressure that would make a Zamboni driver jealous.
—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
3 June 2026
While a standard reversal shows these lines flattening out, the ultimate confirmation comes from a formal DMI crossover (when the green line slices cleanly above the red line).
—
Nishant Pant,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
An explosion at a building believed to be storing explosives in northeastern Myanmar killed at least 46 people and injured dozens more, according to rescuers and others, flattening homes near the border with China.
—
Grant Peck,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
David Denby,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
The answer to modern public life is not flattening everything into slogans or reducing politics to content.
—
Marc Adelman,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
Grant asks Chris about the boxing gloves now for sale in the night store, but Katie forestalls him by running over and grabbing them, nearly flattening Chris.
—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
The ambition is to ensure that AI reflects the identity of the organisation using it, rather than flattening those differences.
—
Heather Farmbrough,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
This can include flattening the hill, raking or shoveling the mound, or even using a garden hose to flood the area.
—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
4 June 2026
The Hurricanes went 12-1, flattening opponents by applying the kind of smooth, inevitable pressure that would make a Zamboni driver jealous.
—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
3 June 2026
While a standard reversal shows these lines flattening out, the ultimate confirmation comes from a formal DMI crossover (when the green line slices cleanly above the red line).
—
Nishant Pant,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
An explosion at a building believed to be storing explosives in northeastern Myanmar killed at least 46 people and injured dozens more, according to rescuers and others, flattening homes near the border with China.
—
Grant Peck,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flattening
Verb
-
This one’s made with a blend of recycled materials and spandex, which reviewers say is thick and comfortably smoothing, and features adjustable criss-cross back straps and a shelf bra.
-
True to its name, the lightweight styler enhances your natural texture while smoothing flyaways and boosting softness (no heat required).
Verb
-
Ospreay struck Strickland, who responded by whipping a chain at him.
-
Vargas is accused of repeatedly whipping the cab’s hood with a belt, denting it, cops said.
Verb
-
The structure suddenly collapsed, burying the people within.
-
Since then, the city has touted its success in burying most of its wires while keeping rates competitive with other utilities.
Verb
-
Biden, who has spoken at length about overcoming drug addiction, claims to be at least $15 million in debt.
-
Many training programs for travel consultants (or really for anybody who works in sales) include tactics on overcoming objections.
Verb
-
French officials condemned the damage to the ancient monastery, comparing it to bombing Notre-Dame, while Ukrainian religious leaders called it a crime against humanity.
-
Another bad fix bombing out the moment it was most needed.
Verb
-
Crews are focusing on the 15 feet along the roadsides, trimming trees that are still alive to help prevent fire from laddering into the crowns and removing dead trees.
-
While some varieties will rebloom without deadheading, trimming fading flowers keeps the flower bed from looking tired.
Verb
-
The bear was completely oblivious to this crowd of people screaming and throwing things at it.
-
There is a real distinction between a city unified by five fine starting players in a game that originally involved throwing a ball into a peach basket and that, however improbably, became the city game, and the bloody display in the nation’s capital.
Verb
-
Saudi Arabia is looking for its first World Cup win since upsetting eventual champion Argentina in its 2022 opener.
-
There were so many ways to do it without upsetting the people who were waiting to be upset.
Cite this Entry
“Flattening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flattening. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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