Showing results for "flattering"

• present participle of flatter.

flattering

American  

[flat-er-ing] / ˈflæt ər ɪŋ /

adjective

1. enhancing the appearance of a person or thing, as by highlighting pleasing features or making less pleasing ones inconspicuous.

   You'll receive expert advice on the most flattering shades of makeup for your complexion.

2. causing a person or thing to seem better or more attractive than is really the case.

   She avoids the weakness of many memoirs by not creating an overly flattering picture of herself or her parents.

3. pleasing or gratifying someone by attention or compliments.

   The publisher sent me a very flattering invitation to write a study of Robert Browning.

4. praising or complimenting someone insincerely or excessively, especially in an attempt to curry favor.

   I’m a remarkably accurate judge of people’s character, and am not misled by flattering words or nice clothes.

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noun

1. the act of attempting to curry favor by praising or complimenting someone insincerely or excessively.

   After a glass of cognac and much flattering and coaxing, he did finally grant our request.

Other Word Forms

• half-flattering
  adjective
• unflattering
  adjective
• flatteringly
  adverb
• half-flatteringly
  adverb
• unflatteringly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of flattering

First recorded in 1200–50; flatter ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; flatter ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun sense

Explanation

Something that's flattering shows you in your best, most attractive light. When you're having your photograph taken, you might wear your most flattering outfit. The softly lit living room mirror is usually more flattering to your face than the harsh fluorescent light of a public restroom. You also might tell your friend that her favorite cashmere sweater is much more flattering than her saggy old gray sweatshirt. Flattering comes from flatter, from an Old French root, flater, "to deceive," but also "to throw or fling to the ground."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

flattering

And that’s the nice part about being a comedian, is if you do something that you’re like, maybe this wasn’t as flattering as I thought it would be, you get to make jokes about it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

Some of those cards—such as flattering President Trump for helping end a four-day India-Pakistan conflict last year—have been played in public view.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

"That's why even some of my friends say things which are not flattering, because somebody said to them that somebody might persuade me to change my view."

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

"I find it flattering that someone of his stature has seen something in what I do as being interesting," Taylor responds.

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

The boys’ attention—including Leo’s—was the opposite of flattering.

From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee

Related Words

• complimentary