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   flatter

   /ˈflatə/

   verb

   • 1. lavish praise and compliments on (someone), often insincerely and with the aim of furthering one's own interests: "she was flattering him in order to avoid doing what he wanted" Similar complimentpraisecommendadmireexpress admiration forpay tribute tosay nice things aboutpay court topay blandishments tofawn onwax lyrical aboutmake much ofcajolehumourblarneyinformal:sweet-talksoft-soapbutter uplay it on thicklay it on with a trowelplay up tosuck up tocrawl tocreep tobe all overfall all overflannelarchaic:blandishrare:laudpanegyrizeOpposite insult
   • ▪ cause (someone) to feel honoured and pleased: "I was very flattered to be given the commission" Similar honourgratifypleasegive pleasure tomake someone pleased/gladdelightgladdeninformal:tickle pinkOpposite offend
   • ▪ choose to believe something favourable about oneself, typically when this belief is unfounded: "‘Don't flatter yourself! I wasn't doing it for your benefit!’"
   • ▪ give an unrealistically favourable impression of: "the final scoreline flattered England"
   • ▪ (of a colour or a style of clothing) cause (someone) to appear to the best advantage: "the fuchsia shade flattered her pale skin" Similar suitbecomeset offshow to advantageenhancelook good onlook right onbe appropriate togo well withembellishornamentgracebefitinformal:do something forOpposite clash with
   • ▪ please (the ear or eye): "the beauty of the stone flattered the clergyman's eyes"

   Word Origin Middle English: perhaps a back-formation from flattery.

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • F

     4

   • L

     1

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

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