Synonyms of flattering

flattering 1 of 2

adjective

1

as in laudatory

Related Words

• laudatory
• eulogistic
• favorable
• positive
• hagiographic
• panegyrical
• encomiastic
• complimentary
• appreciative
• friendly
• praiseful
• warm
• admiring
• commendatory
• approving
• supportive
• accepting
• respectful
• sympathetic
• laudative
• good
• applauding
• adulatory
• worshipful
• approbatory
• adoring
• worshipping
• advisory
• recommendatory
• idolizing

Dissimilar Words

• critical
• captious
• hypercritical
• overcritical
• censuring
• faultfinding
• disparaging
• scornful
• contemptuous
• unflattering
• disdainful
• negative
• slighting
• unfavorable
• belittling
• adverse
• derogatory
• uncomplimentary
• carping
• caviling
• unfriendly
• disapproving
• depreciatory
• unappreciative
• depreciative
• inappreciative

2

as in excessive

Related Words

• excessive
• fulsome
• pretentious
• inflated
• grandiose
• boastful
• stilted
• bombastic
• bloated
• pompous
• affected
• purple
• flowery
• grandiloquent
• ornate
• eloquent
• rhetorical
• florid
• fancy-pants
• high-sounding
• high-flown
• lofty
• bookish
• highfalutin
• aureate
• magnific
• learned
• elevated
• inkhorn

Dissimilar Words

• prosaic
• simple
• direct
• plain
• lean
• matter-of-fact
• straightforward
• unpoetic
• spare
• bald
• unadorned
• stark
• natural
• unaffected
• unpretentious
• plainspoken

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

• praising
• commending
• massaging
• congratulating
• applauding
• stroking
• puffing
• overpraising
• coaxing
• honeying
• fawning
• buttering up
• adulating
• belauding
• complimenting
• wooing
• cajoling
• toadying
• wheedling
• sucking (up to)
• extolling
• blarneying
• hero-worshipping
• kowtowing
• ingratiating
• soft-soaping
• eulogizing
• endearing
• blandishing
• idolizing
• lauding
• sweet-talking
• worshipping
• gushing
• felicitating
• romancing
• slavering
• courting
• slobbering
• drooling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disparaging
• belittling
• putting down
• depreciating
• decrying
• bad-mouthing

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

• priding
• congratulating
• pluming
• bragging
• boasting
• vaunting
• vaporing
• swaggering
• piquing
• swanking
• crowing
• felicitating
• swashing
• gasconading

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of flattering

Adjective

Featuring the favorite V-neck silhouette, this luxe two-piece set pairs a flattering long-sleeve top with easy open-leg pants for head-to-toe softness that feels like a fall treat. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026

Kavanagh also alleges that Sky imposed changes on Love’s annual accounts to create a flattering financial picture by booking margin on incomplete projects early. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2026

Verb

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

Picking the perfect shade and formula for your lips can be intimidating given the number of options on the market, but with more than 30 flattering shades to choose from, Mac Matte Lipstick can be a great addition to your makeup bag. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026