- comparative of flat.
flatter
1 Americanverb (used with object)
-
flatters,
present (3rd person singular)
-
flattered,
past participle, past
-
flattering
present participle
-
to try to please by complimentary remarks or attention.
-
to praise or compliment insincerely, effusively, or excessively.
She flatters him by constantly praising his books.
-
to represent favorably; gratify by falsification.
The portrait flatters her.
-
to show to advantage.
a hairstyle that flatters the face.
-
to play upon the vanity or susceptibilities of; cajole, wheedle, or beguile.
They flattered him into contributing heavily to the foundation.
-
to please or gratify by compliments or attentions.
I was flattered by their invitation.
-
to feel satisfaction with (oneself), especially with reference to an accomplishment, act, or occasion.
He flattered himself that the dinner had gone well.
-
to beguile with hope; encourage prematurely, falsely, etc.
verb (used without object)
-
flatters,
present (3rd person singular)
-
flattered,
past participle, past
-
flattering
present participle
noun
-
a person or thing that makes something flat.
-
a flat-faced blacksmith's tool, laid on a forging and struck with a hammer to smooth the surface of the forging.
-
a drawplate with a flat orifice for drawing flat metal strips, as for watch springs.
verb
-
to praise insincerely, esp in order to win favour or reward
-
to show to advantage
that dress flatters her
-
(tr) to make to appear more attractive, etc, than in reality
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to play upon or gratify the vanity of (a person)
it flatters her to be remembered
-
(tr) to beguile with hope; encourage, esp falsely
this success flattered him into believing himself a champion
-
(tr) to congratulate or deceive (oneself)
I flatter myself that I am the best
noun
-
a blacksmith's tool, resembling a flat-faced hammer, that is placed on forged work and struck to smooth the surface of the forging
-
a die with a narrow rectangular orifice for drawing flat sections
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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flattersimple
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flatterssimple
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have flatteredperfect
-
has flatteredperfect
-
am flatteringprogressive
-
are flatteringprogressive
-
is flatteringprogressive
-
have been flatteringperfect progressive
-
has been flatteringperfect progressive
Past
-
flatteredsimple
-
had flatteredperfect
-
was flatteringprogressive
-
were flatteringprogressive
-
had been flatteringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of flatter1
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English flat(t)eren “to float, flutter, fawn upon,” Old English floterian “to float, flutter”; for sense development, cf. flicker 1, Old Norse flathra; reinforced by Old French flatter “to flatter,” literally, “to stroke, caress” (probably from unattested Frankish flat- flat 1 )
Origin of flatter2
Explanation
When you flatter someone, you praise and compliment him or her — but you aren't totally sincere. You flatter your friend by telling her she's the best driver in the world. Because you want her to offer you a ride. The Old French flater originally meant "to stroke or caress," which is what you do to people's egos when you flatter them. When you flatter, you probably want something — it could be as simple as wanting someone to like you. That's why people who meet celebrities tell them they're the greatest. More positively, if your hairstyle flatters your face, it emphasizes your best features.
Vocabulary lists containing flatter
Dead End in Norvelt
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Inherit the Wind
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Yet even moving to a flatter yield-curve environment can have negative consequences.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026
A flatter and stronger jet stream, with speeds of more than 170mph, will bring deeper areas of low pressure to the UK later in the week.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
Now the next question for Robinson is whether he can repeat this success on harder, flatter pitches, or in hot conditions which will test those fitness levels.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
Favorable base effects should flatter retail sales although the boost from the government’s consumer-goods trade-in program is fading, Goldman said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
In trying to flatter ahd interest him I had cornered him in a prestige-trap.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Except for Iran, of course, which he alternately bombs, demonizes and flatters.
From Salon ● Aug. 7, 2026
But strip out the popular Mini Kelly handbag, which flatters the average premium, and larger versions of the Kelly and Birkin sell at par to retail prices once the auctioneers’ commission is factored in.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 26, 2026
Crypto markets have billions in wash trading — fake volume that flatters momentum and dupes newcomers.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 8, 2025
Shortly after being banished, a disguised Kent flatters King Lear by telling him that he has that quality that leads other men to follow.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 8, 2023
“But I already have a much better image. The color flatters me, don’t you think?”
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
The end of regulatory tailwinds that recently flattered the group’s results mean Fresenius Medical Care could be set for an operating profit contraction, according to JPM.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
“I was surprised — and flattered — to find myself on the guest list.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
Again, I was surprised — and flattered — to find myself on the guest list, and naturally I wanted to know what the occasion was.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
Burwell said he’s flattered by recent online praise from the likes of Ethel Cain, Flying Lotus and Kid Cudi for his score.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Part of me just wants to be with Erin, and yet, another part of me’s intrigued, kind of flattered, and a little nervous, all at once.
From "Boy21" by Matthew Quick
The size of Cruise's star in the movie firmament makes the comparison even less flattering: "Digger" was never going to be in the same ballpark as the multi-billion dollar "Mission: Impossible" franchise.
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
Earlier that morning, Axios co-founder Jim VandeHei published a flattering bulletin placing Schmitt atop the speculative short list to be Vice President JD Vance’s 2028 running mate, quoting admirers of the senator.
From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026
Even by boxing's recent standards, the past 24 hours have been extraordinary - and not a particularly flattering look for the sport.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
In the absence of information, you’ll likely choose the most flattering answer.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 19, 2026
It was flattering, she supposed, even if she didn’t know what was happening, or why he’d been waiting for her outside the mine shaft.
From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas
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