flatterer


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Related to flatterer: adulate, sycophantic

flat·ter 1

 (flăt′ər)
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.]
flat′ter·er n.
flat′ter·ing·ly adv.

flat·ter 2

 (flăt′ər)
n.
1. A flat-faced swage or hammer used by blacksmiths.
2. A die plate for flattening metal into strips, as in the manufacture of watch springs.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.flatterer - a person who uses flatteryflatterer - a person who uses flattery    
adulator
follower - a person who accepts the leadership of another
crawler, sycophant, toady, lackey - a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

flatterer

noun
One who flatters another excessively:
adulator, courtier, sycophant, toady.
Informal: apple-polisher.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
مُتَمَلِّق، مُتَزَلِّف
lichotník
smigrer
skjallari, smjaîrari
lichotník

flatterer

[ˈflætərəʳ] N → adulador(a) m/f
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

flatterer

[ˈflætərər] n → flatteur/euse m/f
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

flatterer

n → Schmeichler(in) m(f)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

flatterer

[ˈflætərəʳ] n → adulatore/trice
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

flatter

(ˈflӕtə) verb
1. to praise too much or insincerely. Flatter him by complimenting him on his singing.
2. to show, describe etc someone or something as being better than someone etc really is. The photograph flatters him.
3. to be pleased to say about (oneself) (that one can do something). I flatter myself that I can speak French perfectly.
ˈflatterer noun
ˈflattery noun
insincere praise.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
Mentioned in ?
References in classic literature ?
After these preparations he signified that the two men should be brought before him, and greeted them with this salutation: "What sort of a king do I seem to you to be, O strangers?' The Lying Traveler replied, "You seem to me a most mighty king." "And what is your estimate of those you see around me?' "These," he made answer, "are worthy companions of yourself, fit at least to be ambassadors and leaders of armies." The Ape and all his court, gratified with the lie, commanded that a handsome present be given to the flatterer. On this the truthful Traveler thought to himself, "If so great a reward be given for a lie, with what gift may not I be rewarded, if, according to my custom, I tell the truth?' The Ape quickly turned to him.
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It is that of flatterers, of whom courts are full, because men are so self-complacent in their own affairs, and in a way so deceived in them, that they are preserved with difficulty from this pest, and if they wish to defend themselves they run the danger of falling into contempt.
He who does otherwise is either overthrown by flatterers, or is so often changed by varying opinions that he falls into contempt.
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Neither is it merely in the phrase; for whereas it hath been well said, that the arch-flatterer, with whom all the petty flatterers have intelligence, is a man's self; certainly the lover is more.
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When the people possess this power they desire to be altogether absolute, that they may not be under the control of the law, and this is the time when flatterers are held in repute.
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I want you, I said, by way of parallel, to imagine a supposititious son who is brought up in great wealth; he is one of a great and numerous family, and has many flatterers. When he grows up to manhood, he learns that his alleged are not his real parents; but who the real are he is unable to discover.
Then I should say, that while he is ignorant of the truth he will be likely to honour his father and his mother and his supposed relations more than the flatterers; he will be less inclined to neglect them when in need, or to do or say anything against them; and he will be less willing to disobey them in any important matter.
But when he has made the discovery, I should imagine that he would diminish his honour and regard for them, and would become more devoted to the flatterers; their influence over him would greatly increase; he would now live after their ways, and openly associate with them, and, unless he were of an unusually good disposition, he would trouble himself no more about his supposed parents or other relations.
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This being indeed the means which they use to recompense to themselves their extreme servility and condescension to their superiors; for nothing can be more reasonable, than that slaves and flatterers should exact the same taxes on all below them, which they themselves pay to all above them.
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Flatterers are they, and whimperers, and nothing more.
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As great men are urged on to the abuse of power (when they need urging, which is not often), by their flatterers and dependents, so old John was impelled to these exercises of authority by the applause and admiration of his Maypole cronies, who, in the intervals of their nightly pipes and pots, would shake their heads and say that Mr Willet was a father of the good old English sort; that there were no new-fangled notions or modern ways in him; that he put them in mind of what their fathers were when they were boys; that there was no mistake about him; that it would be well for the country if there were more like him, and more was the pity that there were not; with many other original remarks of that nature.
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The flatterer is thus an impediment to effective governing.
Survival of the servile in White House

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