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
Relevance
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
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 flattening
Early diagnoses make a significant difference in flattening the curve of Parkinson’s debilitating symptoms, as DTaC cofounder Derek Torry explained to us onsite.
—
Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 1 May 2026
Researchers and academics should be raising the level of the policy debate, not flattening it.
—Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Castle Rock is trying to crack that old script open and replace it with a platform broad enough to hold both conversations without flattening either one.
—Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
This news organization recently interviewed Poppe about PG&E’s status, including the new reality of bills flattening out or even falling.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
In a town of fewer than 2,000 people, a tornado carved through a heavily residential subdivision, flattening homes and scattering families.
—Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 23 Apr. 2026
This would essentially be doubling down on flattening the odds, which was already tested in 2019 and empirically did not reduce tanking.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Winners of previous Cap10Ks have often made their move on Veteran’s Drive, a downhill stretch that runs under MoPac before flattening out alongside Austin High School.
—Brom Hoban, Austin American Statesman, 12 Apr. 2026
In effect, the hydrograph is flattening.
—Imtiaz Rangwala, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 1 May 2026
Researchers and academics should be raising the level of the policy debate, not flattening it.
—Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Castle Rock is trying to crack that old script open and replace it with a platform broad enough to hold both conversations without flattening either one.
—Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
This news organization recently interviewed Poppe about PG&E’s status, including the new reality of bills flattening out or even falling.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
In a town of fewer than 2,000 people, a tornado carved through a heavily residential subdivision, flattening homes and scattering families.
—Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 23 Apr. 2026
This would essentially be doubling down on flattening the odds, which was already tested in 2019 and empirically did not reduce tanking.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Winners of previous Cap10Ks have often made their move on Veteran’s Drive, a downhill stretch that runs under MoPac before flattening out alongside Austin High School.
—Brom Hoban, Austin American Statesman, 12 Apr. 2026
In effect, the hydrograph is flattening.
—Imtiaz Rangwala, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flattening
Verb
-
Stansbury smiled, smoothing the fabric over my back.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The product design for the pull-on skinny and flare denim sought to tackle frequent fit issues women have with jeans—such as waist gaps and hip dips—with waist-smoothing paneling and padding and contour seaming to lift and round wearers’ hips.—
Sarah Jones,
Footwear News,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If the frosting seems soft and dense, give it a chill before whipping again.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Later that evening, three rounds of hail inundated the house, followed by two bouts of whipping winds.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Even worse, local governments are starting to follow suit, holding meetings and burying documents in secrecy when the truth is politically inconvenient.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
According to officials, a tank containing 50,000 gallons of asphalt failed and spilled, burying the victim under three feet of asphalt.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
More Than One Way to Survive in Business Entrepreneurs have been positioned to accept that overcoming the competition is the only way to succeed in business, but there may be other paths forward.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
-
The Blackbeard project aims to achieve all this while overcoming the obstacles that have hindered previous attempts at hypersonic weaponry.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Now, the president’s not only banning Iran but also bombing it, to the tune of a $25-billion war.—
Lorraine Ali,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israeli military personnel that the terms of the ceasefire with Lebanon allow Israel to continue bombing throughout the country.—
Mustafa Qadri,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Tried to listen online while the neighbor made enough noise cutting and trimming his yard during the entire game.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Steve Anderson was trimming a tree near a power line with his 17-year-old son on Saturday, April 18, when the accident occurred, according to Fox affiliate KOKI.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Other methods of sneaking contraband into a prison include throwing it over a facility’s fence, coordinating through the mail and, in some cases, involving corrupt corrections officers.—
Taylor Galgano,
CNN Money,
3 May 2026
-
Rocker was done after two innings, allowing five runs on six hits and throwing 43 pitches in his shortest outing of 2026.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
The auction initially caused quite a stir, upsetting tried and true gentlemanly practice.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
After upsetting Bedlam rival Oklahoma last week, the Cowgirls continued their rise in the rankings by shutting out Texas 5-0 and then sweeping Baylor.—
Molly Keshin,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flattening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flattening. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
