1
: in a blunt and direct manner : openly
called flat out for revolution—
Nat'l Review
Nat'l Review2
: at top speed or peak performance
the car does 180 m.p.h. flat out
3
usually flat-out
: absolutely, downright
—usually used as an intensive
is just flat-out confusing
Examples of flat-out in a Sentence
Adjective
regarded their son-in-law as a flat-out loser and let him know it
Adverb
I told him flat out that I have no intention of marrying him.
We asked for more time but they refused us flat out.
The car does 180 mph flat out.
Recent Examples on the Web
Zach Harper, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
President Trump's demand that Ukraine sign over a huge chunk of its economy as repayment for help fending off Russia is flat-out wrong.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025
Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2025
Campbell's drive was a flat out slice heading straight OB.
—Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flat-out
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
This team flat-out can’t defend from beyond the arc.
—Zach Harper, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
President Trump's demand that Ukraine sign over a huge chunk of its economy as repayment for help fending off Russia is flat-out wrong.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025
Adverb
The sale of those components would be banned flat out, regardless of a person’s training or vetting.
—Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2025
Campbell's drive was a flat out slice heading straight OB.
—Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flat-out
Articles Related to flat-out
Cite this Entry
“Flat-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flat-out. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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