flattery

noun

flat·​tery ˈfla-tə-rē How to pronounce flattery (audio)
plural flatteries
1
a
: the act or practice of flattering
She uses the art of flattery to her advantage.
b(1)
: something that flatters
A compliment is flatteryHarry Shaw
(2)
: insincere or excessive praise
He tried to win his teacher's favor with flattery.
2
obsolete : a pleasing self-deception

Examples of flattery in a Sentence

He tried to win his teacher's favor with flattery. a talk show host who is known for charming her guests with disingenuous flattery
Recent Examples on the Web Mayor Brandon Johnson’s first City Council meeting saw aldermen back his plan to fill key leadership roles with his allies, an early victory for the new chief executive who spent much of the session attempting flattery and levity — including an opening dig at Fox News. Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2023 Imitation is the highest form of flattery, and this Brazilian film shamelessly borrows from several classic teen comedies, but its story about a young girl (Klara Castanho) who wants to fit in at a high school dominated by a queen bee bully (Julia Gomes) mostly feels like a spin on Mean Girls. Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 6 Jan. 2024 Cleaver was no doubt emboldened by this flattery when Huey invited him to call into the television show that morning in March 1971. Jennie Rothenberg Gritz, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Aug. 2023 Akins, who is married to country singer Thomas Rhett, tells PEOPLE how her Daisy & Cowboy Perfume Collection came to be Lauren Akins’ journey to fragrance entrepreneur started with a healthy dose of flattery. Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 4 Dec. 2023 The people, being sovereign, require the same flattery, the same humoring of their wishes, and the same sacrifices of truths, as a prince. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 9 Oct. 2023 If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the new burger joint that recently opened in Sinaloa, Mexico, really loves the food at California-based In-N-Out. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2023 Reported love bombing behavior includes intense attention or flattery given from a romantic partner in order to manipulate the other, especially early in a relationship, Chitra Raghavan, a psychology professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told The New York Times. Conor Murray, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2023 Appreciation must be done without the expectation of anything in return, which draws the thin line between appreciation and flattery. Mike Masterson, Arkansas Online, 10 Jan. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flattery.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see flatter entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of flattery was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near flattery

Cite this Entry

“Flattery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flattery. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

flattery

noun
flat·​tery ˈflat-ə-rē How to pronounce flattery (audio)
plural flatteries
1
: the act of flattering
2
: praise that is excessive or not sincere

More from Merriam-Webster on flattery

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