flattened; flattening
ˈflat-niŋ 
ˈfla-tə-
: to make flat: such as
a
: to make level or smooth
b
: to knock down
also
: to defeat decisively
c
: to make dull or uninspired
—often used with out
d
: to make lusterless
flatten paint
e
: to stabilize especially at a lower level
: to become flat or flatter: such as
a
: to become dull or spiritless
b
: to extend in or into a flat position or form
c
: to become uniform or stabilized often at a new lower level
—usually used with out
Examples of flatten in a Sentence
Dozens of houses were flattened by the tornado.
The boxer was flattened in the seventh round.
The team got flattened in the first round of the play-offs.
Prices are expected to flatten after the holiday shopping season.
Recent Examples on the Web
Homes were flattened, buildings damaged; the 10, which connected the city’s west side to downtown and was considered the busiest freeway in the country, remained closed for three months.
—
Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
The trail flattens out for the final section and becomes a gentle stroll.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, overall electric vehicle sales in the United States have flattened out in recent months.
—Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
In Gaza, over 33,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel's offensive, which has flattened large swaths of the enclave and internally displaced most of Gaza's 2.3 million people, about half of whom are under 18 years old.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
On April 1, Israel launched its latest attack on Iran in the two countries’ ongoing shadow war, with an airstrike that flattened a section of Iran’s embassy complex in Damascus and reportedly killed at least 12 people.
—Dalia Dassa Kaye, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2024
Godzilla, Kong and their adversaries flatten sections of Rio, ripping buildings in half during their climactic brawl, as a monster that can shoot ice from its mouth coats the coastal setting, presumably freezing a bunch of citizens as well.
—Esther Zuckerman, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
On a neutral floor, perhaps the Wildcats’ first-quarter effort flattens out, and the upstart underdog creates a March memory.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2024
While these undergarments won't completely flatten the chest and could cause body dysphoria for some, different styles might help achieve multiple looks or offer options for youth who need to accommodate varying activities.
—Lauren Rowello, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024
Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
The trail flattens out for the final section and becomes a gentle stroll.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, overall electric vehicle sales in the United States have flattened out in recent months.
—Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
In Gaza, over 33,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel's offensive, which has flattened large swaths of the enclave and internally displaced most of Gaza's 2.3 million people, about half of whom are under 18 years old.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
On April 1, Israel launched its latest attack on Iran in the two countries’ ongoing shadow war, with an airstrike that flattened a section of Iran’s embassy complex in Damascus and reportedly killed at least 12 people.
—Dalia Dassa Kaye, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2024
Godzilla, Kong and their adversaries flatten sections of Rio, ripping buildings in half during their climactic brawl, as a monster that can shoot ice from its mouth coats the coastal setting, presumably freezing a bunch of citizens as well.
—Esther Zuckerman, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
On a neutral floor, perhaps the Wildcats’ first-quarter effort flattens out, and the upstart underdog creates a March memory.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2024
While these undergarments won't completely flatten the chest and could cause body dysphoria for some, different styles might help achieve multiple looks or offer options for youth who need to accommodate varying activities.
—Lauren Rowello, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flatten.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near flatten
Cite this Entry
“Flatten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flatten. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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