flatter

flat·ter ¹  (fltr)

v. flat·tered, flat·ter·ing, flat·ters

v.tr.

1. To compliment excessively and often insincerely, especially in order to win favor.

2. To please or gratify the vanity of: "What really flatters a man is that you think him worth flattering" George Bernard Shaw.

3.

a. To portray favorably: a photograph that flatters its subject.

b. To show off becomingly or advantageously.

v.intr.

To practice flattery.

---

[Middle English flateren, from Old French flater, of Germanic origin; see plat- in Indo-European roots.]

---

flatter·er n.

flatter·ing·ly adv.

---

flatter

Verb

1. to praise insincerely, esp. in order to win favour

2. to show to advantage: she wore a simple green cotton dress which she knew flattered her

3. to make (a person) appear more attractive than in reality: a portrait that flattered him

4. to cater to the vanity of (a person): I was flattered by her praise

5. flatter oneself to believe, perhaps mistakenly, something good about oneself [Old French flater to lick, fawn upon]

flatterer n

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

flatter - praise somewhat dishonestly blandish soft-soap - use flattering talk on somebody praise - express approval of; "The parents praised their children for their academic performance" adulate - flatter in an obsequious manner stroke - treat gingerly or carefully; "You have to stroke the boss" bootlick, kotow, toady, truckle, kowtow, fawn, suck up - try to gain favor by cringing or flattering; "He is always kowtowing to his boss" brown-nose, butter up - flatter with the intention of getting something disparage, belittle, pick at - express a negative opinion of; "She disparaged her student's efforts"

---

flatter

verb 1. praise, compliment, pander to, sweet-talk (informal) court, humour, puff, flannel Brit. (informal) fawn, cajole, lay it on (thick) (slang) wheedle, inveigle, soft-soap (informal) butter up, blandish

verb 2. suit, become, enhance, set off, embellish, do something for, show to advantage

Translations

flatter [ˈflætəʳ] vt → adular, halagar (= show to advantage); favorecer

---

flatter [ˈflætəʳ] vt → flatter

---

flatter [ˈflætəʳ] vt → schmeicheln +dat

---

flatter [ˈflætəʳ] vt → lusingare (= show to advantage); donare a