1
as in to smooth
to make free from breaks, curves, or bumps
flattened out the wrinkled paper before attempting to trace the pattern
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to bury
to defeat by a large margin
if you don't understand the rules, you're going to get flattened when you try to play
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flatten
Bored with his tedious job, flattened by a wife (Phoebe Cates) who has cavalierly deserted him, the spry little guy is feeling the punches.
—
Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
Experts say the Treasury yield curve is flattening, though, which could mean longer-term rates will start to win out in the near future.
—Aly J Yale, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Brown Rice Balls Cook brown rice and flatten a portion in your hand.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 1 Apr. 2026
In effect, the hydrograph is flattening.
—Imtiaz Rangwala, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flatten
Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
Experts say the Treasury yield curve is flattening, though, which could mean longer-term rates will start to win out in the near future.
—Aly J Yale, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Brown Rice Balls Cook brown rice and flatten a portion in your hand.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 1 Apr. 2026
In effect, the hydrograph is flattening.
—Imtiaz Rangwala, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flatten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flatten
Verb
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Scrape batter into prepared baking sheet and, using a medium offset spatula, gently spread to edges, smoothing surface.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 Apr. 2026
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This collagen cream can help even out dark spots and smooth your skin for a healthy, luminous complexion.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the ’90s, the peninsula was taken over by a string of summer-only nightclubs, with little regard for the natural surroundings or the ancient cemetery buried in the pine forest.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
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Eighty minutes in, yellow card already in his pocket and a one-game suspension already looming, Wilfried Zaha collected a Pep Biel pass in stride and buried it into the far corner.—
Colin Cerniglia,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bane overcame a slow start by making six of his first seven attempts at the free-throw line to reach 10 points after two quarters.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
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The Leafs overcame a 3-1 deficit with three goals in the third period, including Rielly's snap shot from the high slot that beat Anaheim goalie Ville Husso stick-side to give Toronto a 4-3 lead with three minutes left in regulation.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Hectic schedules, especially as spring sports season begins, can throw a wrench into family meal planning and can encourage families to rely on quick, less nutritious options.—
Dr. Sarah Kinsella,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
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The Angels backed Kochanowicz with two other super plays, left fielder Josh Lowe diving to catch Dominic Canzone’s flare in the fourth and second baseman Ozwald Peraza diving to stop Raley’s fifth-inning grounder up the middle and throwing to first.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Children too short to see the stage stood on their tip-toes to watch Kevin Reyes, the actor who played the part of Jesus, being whipped.—
Laura Turbay,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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The famously-shy sophomore obliged, several of her teammates whipping out their phones to record the big moment.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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One of the sites bombed that day was an Iranian school, leading to at least 175 deaths, most of them children.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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The United States bombed the Isfahan facility along with two other nuclear sites on June 22.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Their radar is 100% annihilated.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
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The trap confined 92 antiprotons in a vacuum, as any contact with air would annihilate them.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But UConn’s smothering defense forced five turnovers against the junior guard and limited the rest of her team to just 30 points.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
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In the West, a smothering heat dome moved east after almost two weeks of record March temperatures; four spots in Arizona and California hit 112 degrees, and dozens of locations set heat records all the way to Pennsylvania and South Carolina.—
Robert Abitbol,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flatten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flatten. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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