Flatter means to praise someone in a way that is often exaggerateddescribed as bigger, better, or more extreme than reality or not fully sincereshowing genuine feeling; not pretending or faking. It can also mean to make someone look especially attractive or to suit them well, but the main dictionary sense here is the dishonestnot truthful; intended to deceive or mislead or overdone praise sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈflætər/
Easy pronunciation: FLAT-er (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
This is the verb meaning to praise someone insincerely or excessively.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Flatter Meaning
to praise in an insincere or exaggerated way
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to praise someone somewhat dishonestly or more than is sincere
Example: He tried to flatter the manager into giving him a better assignment.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- blandish — A direct match for insincere, ingratiating praise.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Flatter Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- blandish
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes confuse flatter with flattery in general, but flatter is the verb: to praise someone, often too much or insincerely.
- Do not confuse this sense with flatter meaning 'to make someone look good' or 'to suit someone' in phrases like 'The dress flatters her figure.'
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does flatter mean?
Flatter means to praise someone in a way that is often exaggerated or not completely sincere.
What is a simple synonym for flatter?
A close synonym is blandish, though it is more formal and less common in everyday speech.
Is flatter always negative?
Often yes, because it can suggest insincere praise, but it can sometimes be used more mildly to mean complimenting someone warmly.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.