# flattery

/ˈfɫætɝi/ (US) · /flˈætəɹi/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/flattery
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

the act of saying nice things to someone to make them feel good or to get something from them. It is often used when someone is trying to be polite or to gain favor.

For teachers: the act of expressing excessive praise or admiration, often with the intent of gaining favor or advantage. It can be genuine or insincere depending on the speaker's intent.

## Examples

- He was very annoyed by the constant flattery.
- The politician's speech was full of flattery toward the wealthy donors who funded his campaign.
- While some people enjoy the flattery of their peers, others find it exhausting to maintain a facade of constant approval when they know the truth.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.