Meaning & use
flatter
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Meanings
verbtransitivedisapproving
To praise someone more than is deserved, often to please them or to get something.
Grammar: Takes a person as object: flatter the boss.
Patterns
- flatter someone
- flatter someone into doing something
He flattered his teacher in the hope of a better grade.
Don't try to flatter me, it won't change my mind.
The salesman flattered her into buying the bigger size.
verbtransitive
To make someone look more attractive than usual.
Grammar: The subject is usually clothing, color, or light: that color flatters you.
Patterns
- flatter someone
- flatter your figure
That blue jacket really flatters you.
Soft candlelight flatters everyone.
The photo flattered him and hid his tired eyes.
verbtransitive
To make yourself feel pleased or proud, especially with a belief that may not be true.
Grammar: Often reflexive or passive: I flatter myself; I was flattered.
Patterns
- flatter yourself that something
- be flattered by something
I flatter myself that I'm a decent cook.
He was flattered to be invited to speak.
Don't flatter yourself, they didn't mean you.
Word forms
| third person singular | flatters |
|---|---|
| past tense | flattered |
| past participle | flattered |
| -ing form | flattering |
Common combinations
- flatter someone's ego
- The reviewer flattered her ego with warm words.
- flatter yourself
- Don't flatter yourself, it was an easy test.
- feel flattered
- I felt flattered when they asked for my advice.
- flatter your figure
- This cut flatters your figure.
- flatter to deceive
- The young player flattered to deceive and missed the goal.
Synonyms and how they differ
- compliment
- Compliment is sincere praise, while flatter implies exaggeration or a hidden motive.
- butter up
- Butter up is an informal phrasal verb for flattering someone to get a favor.
- suit
- Suit means to look good on a person, with less emphasis on improving their appearance.
- praise
- Praise is neutral and honest, but flatter suggests it is excessive.
Opposites
Word family
- flattery noun
- excessive or insincere praise
- flatterer noun
- a person who flatters
- flattering adjective
- making someone look good or feel good
- unflattering adjective
- making someone look worse
Commonly confused: flatter or flatter vs flatten? flatter or flatter (adjective)?
flatter vs flatter vs flatten
Flatten means to make level or squash. Flatter means to praise or make look good.
flatter vs flatter (adjective)
Flatter is also the comparative of flat, as in a flatter surface, so check the context.
Practice
The photographer chose soft light because it would ______ everyone in the group picture.
Choose one answer.
Flatter means to make people look good. Flatten means to press level, and the other options do not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “flatter”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.