English > flatter: 1 sense > verb 1, communication| Meaning | praise somewhat dishonestly. |
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| Pattern | Somebody ----s somebody; Something ----s somebody |
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| Model | Sam cannot flatter Sue |
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| Synonym | blandish |
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| Narrower | adulate | flatter in an obsequious manner |
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| butter up, brown-nose | flatter with the intention of getting something |
| fawn, toady, truckle, bootlick, kowtow, kotow, suck up | try to gain favor / favor / favor by cringing or flattering |
| soft-soap | Use flattering talk / talk on somebody |
| stroke | treat gingerly or carefully |
| Broader | praise | Express approval of |
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| Opposite | disparage, belittle, pick at | Express a negative opinion of |
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| Spanish | adular, halagar, lisonjear |
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| Catalan | adular, afalagar, amoixar, llagotejar |
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| Nouns | flatterer | a person who uses flattery |
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| flattery | excessive or insincere praise |