FLATTER Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

flatter

verb

ˈfla-tər

Definition of flatter

as in to commend

to praise too much the billionaire has an army of assistants who are eager to flatter him at every opportunity

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to pride

to think highly of (oneself) don't flatter yourself that no one has ever thought of that idea before

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 flatter Rigor in value measurement requires a true baseline, a metric the customer agrees on (not one that flatters you), and public results with their name on it. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Trump was flattered into joining Benjamin Netanyahu in attacking Iran, where former presidents had the intelligence to refuse his appeals. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026 Even if Wall Street manages to put the merger to one side, the spotlight on the two separate businesses may not be especially flattering for either of them this quarter. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026 Add dresses to your closet that actually flatter your shorter frame instead of swallowing it. — Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flatter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flatter

Verb

Pawsitive Tails Dog Rescue posted on Facebook commending the work of volunteers who banded together to care for the dogs.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026
The music department, as well as Courcol’s lively directing and writing, must be commended for scenes of the brass ensemble playing and rehearsing, in a constantly dynamic interaction with dialogue.

— Caspar Salmon, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of commend

Verb

The outlet, which receives about 65% of its funding through the Defense Department, has long prided itself on its editorial independence from the public affairs apparatus at the Pentagon.

— Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
In a small eastern Connecticut town that prides itself on being part of the Quiet Corner, even a relatively modest-size project like Meehan’s is drawing more controversy than usual.

— Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of pride

Verb

Jolly, who’s been campaigning against divisiveness in politics, issued a statement congratulating Avila shortly after Tuesday’s announcement.

— Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
In the letter, written after Eminem was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, Parton congratulated the artist on the honor and praised his performance that night.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of congratulate

Verb

The scholar of religion Friedrich Max Müller (1823–1900) noticed that many Vedic hymns praise different deities using the same superlatives and ascribe to them the same mythological feats.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Head coach Willie Simmons praised his team’s athleticism and talent through fall camp, while emphasizing the X’s and O’s with the season opener approaching.

— Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of praise

Verb

Local officials posed around the giant baby blue ceremonial check, applauding as the mayor positioned it on an easel in view of the television cameras.

— Tamar Hallerman, AJC.com, 24 Aug. 2026
His return was widely applauded by fans years after he was dropped for reasons that were never publicly explained either to him or to viewers.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of applaud

Verb

The result is sometimes overpraising, overprotection, and overindulging children, mixing emotional intensity with economic privilege in ways that breed entitlement.

— Christine Michel Carter, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
As in the case of that picture, East of Eden is backed up by masterful screen storytelling that can hardly be overpraised and is complicated by no message that can be termed controversial.

— Jack Moffitt, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2023

Definition of overpraise

Browse Nearby Words

flattens

flatter

flattered

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“Flatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flatter. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of flatter

verb

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