Meaning & use

flatter

verb·Academic

To praise someone excessively or insincerely, often to gain favor, or to make someone appear more attractive.

See it in a sentence

He flattered his boss constantly, hoping it would help him get promoted.

The tailored jacket flattered her figure much more than the baggy one.

A note on using this word

Flatter can imply insincere praise meant to please someone, but it can also mean simply to make someone look good, as with clothing or lighting.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

insultcriticize

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “flatter”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.