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FLATTERING
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Showing or representing to advantage
Example:
a flattering color
Classified under:
Similar:
adulatory (obsequiously complimentary)
becoming (displaying or setting off to best advantage)
ingratiating; ingratiatory; insinuating (calculated to please or gain favor)
Antonym:
unflattering (showing or representing unfavorably)
II. (verb)
Sense 1
-ing form of the verb flatter
Context examples:
And then, as Morgan rolled back to his seat, Silver added to me in a confidential whisper that was very flattering, as I thought, He's quite an honest man, Tom Morgan, on'y stupid.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
Of course, all this is not flattering to me.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
On Christmas night, a dozen girls piled onto the bed which was the dress circle, and sat before the blue and yellow chintz curtains in a most flattering state of expectancy.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Hence it follows of necessity, that vast numbers of our people are compelled to seek their livelihood by begging, robbing, stealing, cheating, pimping, flattering, suborning, forswearing, forging, gaming, lying, fawning, hectoring, voting, scribbling, star-gazing, poisoning, whoring, canting, libelling, freethinking, and the like occupations: every one of which terms I was at much pains to make him understand.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
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)
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)
His reception, however, was of the most flattering kind.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
Could you have a motive for the trust, that was not honourable and flattering to me?
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
Choose a flattering new outfit and perhaps a new perfume (or cologne if you are a man).
(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)
As soon as she put it on a flattering personal basis, generosity compelled me to deny her.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
