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flatter

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flatter¹

  • /ˈflætɚ/ US
  • [ˈflæɾɚ] US
  • /ˈflætə/ UK

Rhymes with -ætə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

From flat + -er (comparative suffix). Compare Icelandic flatari (“flatter, more flat”).

adjective

  1. comparative comparative form of flat: more flat

flatter²

  • /ˈflætɚ/ US
  • [ˈflæɾɚ] US
  • /ˈflætə/ UK

Rhymes with -ætə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

*From Middle English flatteren, flateren (“to flutter, float, fawn over”), probably a conflation of Old English floterian, flotorian (“to flutter, float, be disquieted”), from Proto-West Germanic *flotrōn, from Proto-Germanic *flutrōną (“to be floating”), from Proto-Indo-European *plewd- (“to flow, swim”), equivalent to float + -er; and Old Norse flaðra (“to fawn on someone, flatter”), from Proto-Germanic *flaþrōną (“to fawn over, flutter”), from Proto-Indo-European *peled- (“moisture, wetness”), *pel- (“to gush, pour out, fill, flow, swim, fly”). Cognate with Scots flatter, flotter (“to float; splash; cover with liquid”), Middle Dutch flatteren (“to embellish, flatter, caress”), German flattern (“to flutter”).

*The word was also falsely associated with Middle French flatter (“to flatter, to caress with the flat of the hand”), from Old French flater (“to deceive by concealing the truth, to stroke with the palm of the hand”), from Frankish *flat (“palm, flat of the hand”), from Proto-Germanic *flatą, *flatō (“palm, sole”), from *flataz (“flat”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *pleth₂-, *pleh₂- (“flat, broad, plain”); related to Old High German flazza (“palm, flat of the hand”), Old High German flaȥ (“level, flat”), Old Saxon flat (“flat”), Old Norse flatr (“flat”) (whence English flat), Old Frisian flet, flette (“dwelling, house”), Old English flet, flett (“ground floor, dwelling”). More at flat.

verb flatters · flattering · flattered

  1. ambitransitive To compliment someone, often (but not necessarily) insincerely and sometimes to win favour. A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.

    Similar: butter up, lay it on thick, puff

  2. ambitransitive To enhance or gratify someone's vanity by praising them.

    Similar: stroke someone's ego

  3. ambitransitive To portray someone to advantage. Her portrait flatters her.
  4. ambitransitive To encourage or cheer someone with (usually false) hope. […] I went up, and sat there two Hours and an half before I cou’d discern any Thing like Land; and when I first saw it I told my Comrade, but not being certain I wou’d not call out; for the Case was of such Importance, that they were not to be trifled with, or flatter’d into vain Hopes.
  5. ambitransitive, reflexive, usually To cheer or please (with the idea that); congratulate oneself, especially when the perception is false. Before the results came out, I flattered myself that I had done well on the test. It turned out I was the worst in the class!
  6. ambitransitive, intransitive, obsolete, reflexive, usually In phrasal verb "to flatter with": to encourage, inspire with hope. Run after that ſame peeuiſh Meſſenger / The Countes man: he left this Ring behinde him / Would I, or not: tell him, Ile none of it. / Deſire him not to flatter with his Lord, / Nor hold him vp with hopes, I am not for him:

Similar: brush up to, collogue, flatter, flatterize, glaver, gloze, jolly, lay it on thick, make fair weather, palaver, preen, puff, soothe, speak well of, stroke, tickle the ear · Opposite: defame, offend

flatter³

  • /ˈflætɚ/ US
  • [ˈflæɾɚ] US
  • /ˈflætə/ UK

Rhymes with -ætə(ɹ)

noun flatters

  1. ambitransitive A type of set tool used by blacksmiths.
  2. ambitransitive A flat-faced fulling hammer.
  3. ambitransitive A drawplate with a narrow, rectangular orifice, for drawing flat strips such as watch springs.
  4. ambitransitive Someone who flattens, purposely or accidentally. Also flattener.

flatter⁴

  • /ˈflætɚ/ US
  • [ˈflæɾɚ] US
  • /ˈflætə/ UK

Rhymes with -ætə(ɹ)

noun flatters

  1. New Zealand, UK, ambitransitive, slang Someone who lives in a rented flat.

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: blandish, soothe, patronize, eulogize, laud, praise, compliment, exalt, glorify, adulate, overpraise, idolize, fawn, sweet-talk, wheedle, cajole

verb

Similar: brush up to, collogue, flatter, flatterize, glaver, gloze, jolly, lay it on thick, make fair weather, palaver, preen, puff, soothe, speak well of, stroke, tickle the ear · Opposite: defame, offend

Translations

Every language

verb to compliment someone

Españolhalagar, falagar, requebrar
한국어아첨하다 acheomhada, 아부하다 abuhada, 치켜세우다 chikyeose'uda, 알랑거리다 allanggeorida
日本語諂う hetsurau, 追従する tsuishō suru, 諂媚する tembi suru
中文討好 /讨好 tǎohǎo, 奉承 fèngchéng, 阿谀 ēyú
Portuguêsadular, bajular
Françaisflatter
Deutschschmeicheln
Italianolusingare, adulare
Ελληνικάκολακεύω kolakévo
Românăflata, complimenta, măguli, linguși
Русскийльстить lʹstitʹ, польсти́ть polʹstítʹ
Tiếng Việtnịnh nọt
العربيةتَمَلَّقَ tamallaqa, تَبَصْبَصَ tabaṣbaṣa
עבריתהחמיא hiḥmí

verb to enhance someone's vanity

Españollisonjear, incensar, franelear, incensariar
Françaisflatter
Deutschanbiedern, einschmeicheln
Italianoblandire, sviolinare, piaggiare
Русскийльстить lʹstitʹ, раздува́ть чьё-либо э́го razduvátʹ čʹjo-libo égo, разду́ть чьё-либо э́го razdútʹ čʹjo-libo égo

verb to portray something to advantage

Españolretocar
Françaisflatter
Deutschanbiedern
Italianocompiacere, vantare, incantare
Ελληνικάκολακεύω kolakévo
Русскийльстить lʹstitʹ, выгора́живать vygoráživatʹ, вы́городить výgoroditʹ

noun hammer

Españolmartillo

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Cite this
MLA

"flatter." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/flatter. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

flatter. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/flatter

Chicago

"flatter." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/flatter.

BibTeX
@misc{flatter_2026,
  title = {flatter},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/flatter},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}