Flatter

Pronunciation: /ˈflætər/

Definitions of flatter

verb to praise or compliment someone excessively in order to please or persuade them

Example Sentences

A1 She flatters her friend by complimenting her new haircut.

A2 He flattered his boss in hopes of getting a promotion.

B1 The salesperson tried to flatter the customer to make a sale.

B2 The politician was skilled at flattering the audience during his speech.

C1 She was adept at subtly flattering others to gain their favor.

C2 The artist's work flattered the beauty of the landscape.

Examples of flatter in a Sentence

formal It is not appropriate to flatter someone simply to gain favor in a professional setting.

informal I can't help but flatter my best friend whenever she shows me her new outfit.

slang Stop trying to flatter me, I know you just want something from me.

figurative The colors of the sunset seemed to flatter the landscape, making it even more beautiful.

Grammatical Forms of flatter

• past tense: flattered
• plural: flatterers
• comparative: more flattering
• superlative: most flattering
• present tense: flatters
• future tense: will flatter
• perfect tense: has flattered
• continuous tense: is flattering
• singular: flatterer
• positive degree: flatter
• infinitive: to flatter
• gerund: flattering
• participle: flattering

Origin and Evolution of flatter

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old French

Story behind the word: The word 'flatter' originated from the Old French word 'flater' which came from the Latin word 'flattere' meaning 'to stroke, caress'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'flatter' evolved to encompass not just physical caressing, but also the act of praising or complimenting someone insincerely in order to gain favor or manipulate them.