flattering

[flat-er-ing]

adjective

1. enhancing the appearance of a person or thing, as by highlighting pleasing features or making less pleasing ones inconspicuous.

   You'll receive expert advice on the most flattering shades of makeup for your complexion.

2. causing a person or thing to seem better or more attractive than is really the case.

   She avoids the weakness of many memoirs by not creating an overly flattering picture of herself or her parents.

3. pleasing or gratifying someone by attention or compliments.

   The publisher sent me a very flattering invitation to write a study of Robert Browning.

4. praising or complimenting someone insincerely or excessively, especially in an attempt to curry favor.

   I’m a remarkably accurate judge of people’s character, and am not misled by flattering words or nice clothes.

noun

1. the act of attempting to curry favor by praising or complimenting someone insincerely or excessively.

   After a glass of cognac and much flattering and coaxing, he did finally grant our request.

Other Word Forms

• flatteringly adverb
• half-flattering adjective
• half-flatteringly adverb
• unflattering adjective
• unflatteringly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of flattering¹

First recorded in 1200–50; flatter ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; flatter ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun sense

Example Sentences

It’s flattering and nice but after what I’ve experienced in my career, you cannot possibly predict how things are going to go.

From Los Angeles Times

That anyone remembers he played at all is both flattering and befuddling for Ardell, who receives about a dozen autograph requests in the mail each year.

From Los Angeles Times

There’s a real novelty to it and it’s incredibly flattering in a way that we are not used to being flattered.

From Los Angeles Times

She refuses to give up on Alex, and increasingly becomes his only source of companionship, which she can’t help but find flattering.

From Los Angeles Times

"I wanted the film to be real and true, and there are some not necessarily flattering things, but they are revealing of who she was."

From Salon

Related Words

• complimentary