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
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Recent Examples of flattery
Advertisement An alternative to flattery AI proposed by researchers from Harvard and the University of Montreal is antagonistic AI.
—
Arianna Huffington, Time, 14 Jan. 2026
On Wall Street, speculation is often the sincerest form of flattery.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2025
This ridiculous man, who seems to value nothing besides flattery and personal enrichment, has achieved in mere months feats of which the conservative movement has dreamed for a lifetime.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Such alignment can easily be misread as flattery.
—Adrian Kuenzler, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flattery
Arianna Huffington, Time, 14 Jan. 2026
On Wall Street, speculation is often the sincerest form of flattery.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2025
This ridiculous man, who seems to value nothing besides flattery and personal enrichment, has achieved in mere months feats of which the conservative movement has dreamed for a lifetime.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Such alignment can easily be misread as flattery.
—Adrian Kuenzler, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flattery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flattery
Noun
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So, with everything that has happened over the past two weeks, Spurs deserve a lot of praise for their first-half performance against Arsenal.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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Granted, the actress is a brand ambassador, but the formula and five-star ratings back up her praise.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Inside, hyaluronic acid microspheres and peptides draw moisture into the lips, while botanical butters lock it in; depositing onto lips a cooling, balm texture that enhances comfort.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
21 Feb. 2026
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Olive oil chocolate chip cookies, cashew-chia pudding, tahini rice crispy treats, and more desserts made without butter, milk, or cream.—
Emily Saladino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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No, after basking in the adulation of 4 million diverse neighbors every summer, the players will not turn their backs on these people while the government continues to round them up despite no criminal history.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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Another, almost entirely fictive identity would afford him freedom and adulation.—
David Treuer,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Maurer began to receive international acclaim in 2011, when her work appeared in the Istanbul Biennial.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Released in April 2025, Sinners arrived to critical acclaim and went on to score big box office returns, which were especially impressive for a non-sequel, non-adapted original story.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Taylor arrives as a legitimate Oscar threat with the kind of adoration and critics reviews that make voters take notice.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
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Over the course of the show, the pair develop a dysfunctional, surprisingly critical father-son dynamic, despite Gene's compulsive desire for adoration and Barry's, well, need to kill.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Watch an encounter full of sweet talk, gaslighting and tension here.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
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Don’t fall for compliments that don’t feel genuine, and don’t be afraid to confront whatever’s beneath someone’s sweet talk.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flattery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flattery. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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