1
as in smooths
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 buries
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 flattens
And yet, Waltz’s affable, wooden interpretation flattens the role and makes the movie’s moral center read as oddly mundane.
—
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2026
His visual approach, however, flattens the ensuing emotional layers.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
Fatigue that flattens whole weekends.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 6 Jan. 2026
If the user releases the string, the structure flattens again.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Dec. 2025
Anonymity meant to protect actually flattens their experience.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
When gutters and drains clog, water sheets off the roof onto the plants below and flattens them.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 2025
In its effort to stoke the geopolitical flames with winks and tongue-in-cheek reference, this new book flattens the story to surface level commentary.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Nov. 2025
In slow movements, each gunmetal gray robot grabs a towel by its corners, flattens it out, folds it twice, and deposits it into the basket.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2026
His visual approach, however, flattens the ensuing emotional layers.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
Fatigue that flattens whole weekends.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 6 Jan. 2026
If the user releases the string, the structure flattens again.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Dec. 2025
Anonymity meant to protect actually flattens their experience.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
When gutters and drains clog, water sheets off the roof onto the plants below and flattens them.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 2025
In its effort to stoke the geopolitical flames with winks and tongue-in-cheek reference, this new book flattens the story to surface level commentary.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Nov. 2025
In slow movements, each gunmetal gray robot grabs a towel by its corners, flattens it out, folds it twice, and deposits it into the basket.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flattens
Verb
-
The jeans have slimming panels with a crisscross design that shape and support curves, while the high front waist smooths the tummy area.—
Melony Forcier,
InStyle,
17 Feb. 2026
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Santorini Grape Velvet Skin Drink is a luxurious face oil that blurs imperfections, smooths texture and replenishes skin with hydration.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Despite such doubts, Malaysia is positioning itself as Southeast Asia's hub for the alternative technology, a three-step process that captures, transports and buries carbon dioxide which contributes to climate change.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
But Tan’s comment buries the lede.—
Peter Cohan,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
LithSonic overcomes this challenge by using supersonic flow, similar to the conditions inside a rocket engine, to achieve ultra-rapid cooling through a process known as shock quenching.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
-
After a sluggish start, Texas overcomes a 14-point deficit to tie the game before OU's Xzayvier Brown hits a 3-pointer to give his team the halftime lead.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Each player throws two stones per end, and after all sixteen stones are delivered, only one team scores.—
Mark Billingsley,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
But as a character and a bastion of the beautiful game — lamenting long throws and VAR at every opportunity — Postecoglou continues to charm British football.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Additionally, some of the visual scenery projected behind and above the set doesn’t always embrace but overwhelms the acting below.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
-
In practice, fluent dialogue quickly overwhelms reflective distance.—
Deb Roy,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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South Grand Prairie smothers Richardson to move on South Grand Prairie got 19 points from Janae Johnson to lead the Warriors to a 41-26 drubbing of Richardson in a Class 6A Division I bi-district game on Monday.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The filmmaker leans pop-comic rather than petrifying in his final draft, opting for earnestness that smothers atmospheric dread.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Lowell Bailey upsets the pre-race favorites in the men’s individual competition to become the first American biathlete to win gold at the world championships.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
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Hayley’s very upset by it, and that upsets Mickey, and that’s probably one of the biggest driving motivations for him, not just to save his own life, but to save his daughter and his family from the ramifications of this.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When a dog repeatedly wags and whips its tail against hard surfaces, the tip can split open, bruise or break.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Benbrook whips Diamond Hill-Jarvis Benbrook stayed on pace for a playoff berth in District 8-4A as the Lady Bobcats thumped Fort Worth Diamond Hill-Jarvis 55-7.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flattens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flattens. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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