Library / English Dictionary

FLATTER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Praise somewhat dishonestly

Synonyms:

blandish; flatter

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "flatter" is one way to...):

praise (express approval of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "flatter"):

soft-soap (use flattering talk on somebody)

adulate (flatter in an obsequious manner)

stroke (treat gingerly or carefully)

bootlick; fawn; kotow; kowtow; suck up; toady; truckle (try to gain favor by cringing or flattering)

brown-nose; butter up (flatter with the intention of getting something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Sam cannot flatter Sue

Antonym:

disparage (express a negative opinion of)

Derivation:

flatterer (a person who uses flattery)

flattery (excessive or insincere praise)

Credits

 Context examples: 

But he was pressed to stay for Mrs. Fraser's party; his staying was made of flattering consequence, and he was to meet Mrs. Rushworth there.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

But all in vain; Catherine felt herself to be in the right, and though pained by such tender, such flattering supplication, could not allow it to influence her.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I thank you, my friend, for your all too-flattering estimate, but yet I fear that I am but a little way on the road I would travel.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

She was flattered by the gentleman’s attentions, and the effect was increased by the loudly expressed admiration of her mother.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Her breath, her skin, her lips, all flattered Elinor with signs of amendment; and Marianne fixed her eyes on her with a rational, though languid, gaze.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

I think it flattered him to see the way in which we all three hung upon his words.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You must give me leave to flatter myself, my dear cousin, that your refusal of my addresses is merely words of course.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

“My fair sir, you flatter me,” cried the mayor.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It took some doing, but I flatter myself that it wasn't such a bad job when it was finished.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Their speech is often flatter in tone, they make much less eye contact, and they are less likely to respond when their baby tries to get their attention.

(Mothers’ and babies’ brains ‘more in tune’ when mother is happy, University of Cambridge)