What does flattering mean?

Definitions for flattering
flat·ter·ing

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word flattering.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. flatteringadjective

    showing or representing to advantage

    "a flattering color"

Wiktionary

  1. flatteringnoun

    The action of the verb to flatter.

  2. flatteringnoun

    Instances of flattery.

  3. flatteringadjective

    Attractive or good-looking; that makes one look good.

    The dress really did not look very flattering on her figure.

Wikipedia

  1. flattering

    Flattery (also called adulation or blandishment) is the act of giving excessive compliments, generally for the purpose of ingratiating oneself with the subject. It is also used in pick-up lines when attempting to initiate sexual or romantic courtship. Historically, flattery has been used as a standard form of discourse when addressing a king or queen. In the Renaissance, it was a common practice among writers to flatter the reigning monarch, as Edmund Spenser flattered Queen Elizabeth I in The Faerie Queene, William Shakespeare flattered King James I in Macbeth and Niccolò Machiavelli flattered Lorenzo II de' Medici in The Prince. Many associations with flattery, however, are negative. Negative descriptions of flattery range at least as far back in history as the Bible. In the Divine Comedy, Dante depicts flatterers wading in human excrement, stating that their words were the equivalent of excrement, in the second bolgia of 8th Circle of Hell. An insincere flatterer is a stock character in many literary works. Examples include Wormtongue from J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Goneril and Regan from King Lear, and Iago from Othello.

ChatGPT

  1. flattering

    Flattering refers to offering excessive, insincere or false praise or compliments to someone, usually with the intention of gaining their favor, trust or approval. It can also refer to something that enhances or complements one's appearance, attributes or achievements in a pleasing and favorable way.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Flattering

    of Flatter

  2. Flatteringadjective

    that flatters (in the various senses of the verb); as, a flattering speech

How to pronounce flattering?

How to say flattering in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of flattering in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of flattering in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of flattering in a Sentence

  1. Damon Welch:

    Part of being a sex symbol is very flattering and it does help you get success in the business - but only to a point.

  2. Joe Diffie:

    I was like,' Joe Diffie got ta be kidding me.' It's pretty flattering they went that far with it. It's one thing to hear a song title or Joe Diffie name mentioned, but when it started into the' Joe, Joe, Joe Diffie' part, that's cool right there.

  3. Proverb:

    A hypocrite's hatred is hidden behind flattering words. #qotd #quoteoftheday

  4. John Leahy:

    Part of me sees that as flattering but there is a difference in that I am not a one-man show, i have a great team, people who have grown in the business and are very cohesive. We are a pack at the leadership and we are a pack at the sales level.

  5. Lisa Tobin:

    I find it deeply flattering, i think that it speaks to the unexpected role that audio has come to play at The Times '. A podcast doesn't become the front page of a newspaper unless a newspaper lets a podcast become the new front page.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

flattering#10000#33864#100000

Translations for flattering

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

Get even more translations for flattering »

Translation

Find a translation for the flattering definition in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Word of the Day

Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?

Please enter your email address:


Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"flattering." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/flattering>.

Discuss these flattering definitions with the community:

0 Comments

    Are we missing a good definition for flattering? Don't keep it to yourself...

    Image or illustration of

    flattering

    Credit »

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Browse Definitions.net

    Quiz

    Are you a words master?

    »
    change toward something smaller or lower
    A perusal
    B directory
    C decline
    D equity

    Nearby & related entries:

    Alternative searches for flattering: