1
as in laudatory
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excessive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in praising
to praise too much
the billionaire has an army of assistants who are eager to flatter him at every opportunity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in priding
to think highly of (oneself)
don't flatter yourself that no one has ever thought of that idea before
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flattering
Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2025
Most brands typically offer at least 10 shades, including everything from flattering nudes to bold reds.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
Sean McIndoe, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025
The coat packs down small enough to be a good choice for travel, and the fit is flattering enough to look good around town.
—Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flattering
Adjective
This one checks all the boxes: flattering square neckline, breezy skirt, and—yes—pockets.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2025
Most brands typically offer at least 10 shades, including everything from flattering nudes to bold reds.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
Verb
The flip side of the previous entry, the score was flattering here, as Canada jumped out to a 5-0 lead on the strength of big games from Wayne Gretzky and a teenaged Eric Lindros.
—Sean McIndoe, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025
The coat packs down small enough to be a good choice for travel, and the fit is flattering enough to look good around town.
—Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flattering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flattering
Adjective
-
Still, Ukraine’s supporters are likely to be disappointed with Trump’s laudatory remarks of Putin and potential business deals.—
Laura Kelly,
The Hill,
19 May 2025
-
But not all the tributes to the pope’s life were purely laudatory.—
Glynis Kazanjian,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
As a Millennial what’s your take on Gen Z’s excessive use of exclamation points?—
Frank DiGiacomo,
Billboard,
9 June 2025
-
The coroner ruled Carol’s cause of death as hypovolemia, which is when the plasma is too low from excessive bleeding; multiple stab and incised wounds from a sharp instrument; and a blunt force injury that fractured the skull, according to the coroner’s report.—
Stephanie Warsmith,
USA Today,
8 June 2025
Adjective
-
Hopefully the candidates will use this unfiltered opportunity to present their records and their plans in a more fulsome manner afforded than their 30-second TV ads blanketing our screens.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
4 June 2025
-
But in his second term — rid of officials like former Defense Secretary James Mattis who pushed back on Trump’s impulses — the president is plowing full speed ahead with a more fulsome military display.—
Brett Samuels,
The Hill,
28 May 2025
Adjective
-
Bubic relied on his fastball more to get in favorable counts before mixing the rest of his pitching arsenal.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2025
-
That means chances are favorable for geomagnetic storms that lead to widespread sightings of the northern lights in the near future.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2025
Adjective
-
Folks in foodie online circles can be pretentious about American-Chinese food.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 May 2025
-
González is a fountain of knowledge but also a great educator, explaining things in detail without being pretentious or condescending.—
Claudia Alarcón,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
In the 1999-00 season, 10 players listed at 5-foot-11 or shorter played significant time, collectively accounting for 3% of all NBA minutes, despite the inflated height measurements back then.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
6 June 2025
-
Even with the burden of tariffs dropping slightly from the inflated levels suggested by some, the impact on the iPhone and the Galaxy audiences will be significant.—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Verb
-
Independence Police Chief Adam Dustman has announced an internal investigation into a November police shooting that killed a mother and her baby, while applauding the officer who fired the fatal bullets.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Some Jewish groups are applauding the effort.—
Jeff Zeman,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
That could be because of physiological changes, improved physical mobility or increased positive social feedback, Keeler said.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
-
The state also has a high change in GDP (gross domestic product) which indicates a positive and booming economy.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flattering. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share