FLATTERY Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

flattery

noun

ˈfla-tə-rē

Definition of flattery

as in praise

excessive praise a talk show host who is known for charming her guests with disingenuous flattery

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 The message underneath the flattery is more consequential since Somaliland is no longer simply making a historical or moral case for recognition. — Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for flattery

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flattery

Noun

His praise reached Secretly Group’s director of A&R, Eric Deines, who co-runs a smaller label of his own, Ulyssa, previously most notable for its compilations of songs with almost no listens on streaming services called <1000.

— Jack Denton, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
To win effusive praise from special envoy Steve Witkoff and announce a resumption in negotiations, Russian President Vladimir Putin had to do very little.

— Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 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

The Amish Project debuted to critical acclaim at the New York International Fringe Festival and was developed at the Cherry Lane Theatre before premiering Off Broadway at the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater in 2009.

— Greg Evans, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026
The show’s soundtrack also garnered critical acclaim, with many of the covers performed by the cast making the Billboard Hot 100.

— Saba Hamedy, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of acclaim

Noun

His face appearing on the big screen was naturally greeted by cheers of adoration from the stands and would normally have been a pure reason to smile.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
The filmmaker was showered with love and adoration by appreciative fans.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of adoration

Browse Nearby Words

flatters

flattery

flatulent

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Flattery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flattery. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of flattery

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

emissary

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

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

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes