flatly
Americanadverb
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absolutely and without qualification.
Our offer was flatly rejected.
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without vitality or animation.
He spoke flatly about the death of his wife.
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in a level, even, or smooth manner.
Apply the tape flatly to the pipe.
Etymology
Origin of flatly
First recorded in 1560–70; flat 1 ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
Explanation
Saying something flatly means conveying a direct, clear idea in a firm way. It's fine to flatly instruct your dog walker to stop dressing your bulldog in a tutu. Someone who's comfortable being straightforward will have no problem flatly refusing to pay for a terrible meal in a restaurant or flatly directing a taxi driver to turn down the radio. Some synonyms for flatly include unequivocally and categorically. Sometimes this adverb is also used to mean "without emotion," as when you receive some stunningly bad news and flatly reply, "Oh, I see."
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.
“The Catcher in the Rye” is a text that is flatly impossible to decouple from its author: A book about trauma written in the midst of trauma by a traumatized man.
From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026
When I note that the court constantly faces the latter charge today, Mr. Meese replies flatly: “Well, not properly.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
It was flatly refused by the Newsom administration.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026
Apple criticised the law on Monday when it blamed the DMA for its delayed rollout of the AI-enhanced voice assistant Siri, which the EU flatly rejected.
From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026
When we voiced our concern, Haldar said it was not our business, and flatly refused to discuss the matter.
From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
