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flattery

noun

ˈfla-tə-rē How to pronounce flattery (audio)
Definition of flatterynext
as in praise
excessive praise a talk show host who is known for charming her guests with disingenuous flattery

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 flattery But Ridgeway pushes on, trying various means — flattery, insults, amateur psychology — to cajole her into delivering a new Ripley book. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 15 Sep. 2026 Global game Durant welcomes NBA’s international flair To Kevin Durant, imitation is not just flattery. — Shakeia Taylor, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Perhaps the highest form of flattery for a musician is to have another artist cover their song. — Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 2026 The best form of flattery is imitation, and Robert Pattinson does an incredible impression of Chris Hansen for A24’s new movie, Primetime. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flattery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flattery
  1. praise
  2. adulation
  3. acclaim
  4. adoration
  5. sweet talk
Noun
  • Research has shown that sincere praise can sometimes have social rewards.
    — Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Aldermen gave initial approval Thursday to the sale of Chicago’s infamously privatized parking meter system from one owner to another, but not before praise for new perks met concerns that the city is once again getting a subpar deal.
    — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of praise
Noun
  • This adulation is all Fujino needs to take Kyomoto under her wing, and soon the two are inseparable, collaborating on strips where Fujino writes the stories and draws the figures while Kyomoto does the backgrounds.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Djokovic will have cheers about as loud as the ones that will be heard for the Americans Shelton and Fritz, the type of adulation that often fizzles before the ultimate prize.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of adulation
Noun
  • As box office momentum, new creator pipelines and evolving business models collide with critical acclaim, industry buzz and Oscar ambition, what does commercial success mean for a film’s awards prospects now?
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The movies occupy a strange cultural position, though, making up a commercially successful franchise with basically zero critical acclaim.
    — Tyler Foggatt, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of acclaim
Noun
  • And yet, when Szumowska and Englert portray Fyodor’s reaction to the couple’s pregnancy, the birth of their child, and a subsequent tragedy, Anna’s adoration for this utterly flawed man almost feels justified.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • So, too, do the antics of his estate manager (a buoyant Sam Adegoke), always concocting money-making schemes, and the wide-eyed adoration of the girl next door (Amelia Mason, deftly balancing naïveté with seductiveness), who wants to save him.
    — Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of adoration
Noun
  • Really, what writer, no matter how detached from their past, could resist that kind of sweet talk?
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Watch an encounter full of sweet talk, gaslighting and tension here.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of sweet talk

Browse Nearby Words

flatters
flattery
flatulent
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Cite this Entry

“Flattery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flattery. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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