flattery: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “flattery” mean?
Excessive and insincere praise given to gain favour or manipulate.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Excessive and insincere praise given to gain favour or manipulate.
The act of praising someone, often excessively or without sincerity, typically to please them, win their approval, or influence them; can sometimes imply artful manipulation through compliments.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; concept is identical.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British English in formal or ironic contexts (e.g., 'flattery will get you nowhere'). American usage is identical in meaning.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “flattery” in a Sentence
be immune to flatterysee through (someone's) flatteryflattery + verb (e.g., flattery works, flattery failed)flattery + preposition (e.g., flattery from colleagues, flattery about her work)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flattery” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He tried to flatter the manager into giving him the promotion.
- I'm not flattered by such obvious tactics.
American English
- She flattered her boss to get on the good side of the project.
- Don't flatter yourself; it wasn't that impressive.
adverb
British English
- He spoke flatteringly of her predecessor.
- She smiled flatteringly at the client.
American English
- He described the project flatteringly, hoping for more funding.
- She glanced flatteringly in his direction.
adjective
British English
- His flattery comments were embarrassingly transparent.
- She gave him a flattery smile.
American English
- He made a flattering remark about her presentation.
- The review was overly flattering.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Describing manipulative tactics in negotiations or office politics.
Academic
Used in social psychology, political science, or literary analysis to discuss persuasion and social influence.
Everyday
Discussing someone's transparent attempt to gain favour through insincere praise.
Technical
Not typically a technical term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “flattery”
Strong
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “flattery”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flattery”
- Using 'flattery' to mean genuine, deserved praise. Confusing 'flattery' (the act) with 'flatterer' (the person).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, almost without exception. It implies the praise is excessive and not sincere, given with an ulterior motive. The idiom 'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery' is a rare, proverbial exception where it edges toward a positive meaning.
A compliment is a polite expression of praise or admiration, which can be sincere. Flattery is excessive, often insincere praise specifically intended to please or influence the recipient.
No, 'flattery' is a noun. The verb form is 'to flatter'. A person who flatters is a 'flatterer'.
The most common is 'Flattery will get you nowhere,' used to tell someone that their insincere praise will not achieve the desired result.
Excessive and insincere praise given to gain favour or manipulate.
Flattery is usually neutral to formal in register.
Flattery: in British English it is pronounced /ˈflæt(ə)ri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈflætəri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Flattery will get you nowhere.”
- “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a FLATtery tyre being pumped up with hot air – flattery is like pumping someone up with insincere, airy praise.
Conceptual Metaphor
FLATTERY IS A SWEET, BUT DECEPTIVE, FOOD (e.g., 'He was eating up all the flattery'). FLATTERY IS A TOOL/MANIPULATION.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes the core meaning of 'flattery'?