flattering 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of flatteringnext
1
as in laudatory

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words
2
as in excessive

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

flattering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of flatter
1
as in praising
to praise too much the billionaire has an army of assistants who are eager to flatter him at every opportunity

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in priding
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 flattering
Adjective
Helen Mirren Helen Mirren’s soft mix of pearl, silver, and light blonde tones creates a flattering, light-reflective color. — Colleen Sullivan, InStyle, 16 July 2026 The high-rise silhouette cinches your waist, too, for a comfortable yet flattering fit. — Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2026
Verb
The infamous Cristiano Ronaldo bust leads the list of sports statutes that have received less-than-flattering reviews. — ABC News, 4 July 2026 The crew neckline, tie waist, and subtle side slit create a flattering silhouette that works equally well for cruise dinners, city exploring, and beachside evenings. — Aashna Gheewalla, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for flattering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flattering
  1. laudatory
  2. excessive
  3. praising
  4. priding
  5. favorable
  6. fulsome
  7. commending
  8. congratulating
Adjective
  • Not everyone is as laudatory of the president’s age and mental acuity.
    — Linda Marx, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
  • But as the home’s superstructure emerged, so have neighbors’ opinions — both laudatory and critical.
    — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026
Definition of laudatory
Adjective
  • Treatment methods Before prescribing TRT, doctors generally look for potentially reversible or temporary factors, including obesity, certain medications, untreated obstructive sleep apnea, acute illness and excessive alcohol use.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026
  • Used thoughtfully, such tools can help organizations identify patterns associated with burnout, including staffing imbalances, unsustainable workloads, excessive overtime or workflow bottlenecks.
    — Jennifer Lee, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of excessive
Verb
  • And maybe praising the Lord, which also happened at the K Wednesday night.
    — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 16 July 2026
  • Reviews were solid, with critics praising the plot twists and action sequences.
    — Brent Lang, Variety, 16 July 2026
Definition of praising
Verb
  • The property offers a variety of programs and activities for children and families, priding itself on being a multigenerational spot to return to again and again.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
  • Suitcases rarely push the $400 mark while priding themselves on chicness and durability; accessories like toiletry bags, too, come in at under $40 and yet retain an aspirational look worthy of your aesthetic at large.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 27 May 2026
Definition of priding
Adjective
  • Gaps in disclosure have prompted calls to reform the ethics and lobbying laws so that the public can easily see who is providing the expensive perks to state officials who have the power to reward them with favorable legislation and other actions.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026
  • Those numbers changed considerably when broken down by political party, with Republicans having a more favorable view of the economy than Democrats.
    — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
Definition of favorable
Adjective
  • Both titles possess the fulsome tones of Miyazaki-style Japanese anime.
    — Kevin Giraud, Variety, 29 June 2026
  • In overturning that verdict, the appeals court said the jury's question should have gotten a more fulsome answer, including the possibility of discounting all the confessions.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 22 June 2026
Definition of fulsome
Verb
  • Erdogan shook referee Bobby Madley’s hand and would not let go, commending him on his performance through an interpreter.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 9 July 2026
  • Fans are commending Hathaway for owning the mistake, with many praising her for making the look her own.
    — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Definition of commending
Verb
  • Following the loss, the royal account shared a post congratulating the team on their impressive run, with a photo of team captain Harry Kane comforting star midfielder Jude Bellingham.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
  • The Senate Leadership Fund, the main super PAC for Senate Republicans, released a statement congratulating Nordone’s nomination.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 13 July 2026
Definition of congratulating

Browse Nearby Words

flattered
flattering
flatteringly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flattering. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on flattering

Nglish: Translation of flattering for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dog days

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All