Synonyms for flattering
- adjective
- noun
Most common
All synonyms
Adjective
1. Complimentary
complimentary, ingratiating, obsequious, sycophantic, smooth, unctuous, smarmy, smooth-tongued, courtly, adulatory, parasitic, fawning, oily
Other
Noun
Definitions
- adj. 1
Attractive or good-looking; that makes one look good.
The dress really did not look very flattering on her figure.
- n. 1
The action of the verb to flatter.
Forms
- Plural
- flatterings → flatteries, wheedlings…
Example sentences
- obsequious Obsequious people make me feel uncomfortable.
- ingratiating Tom is ingratiating himself with our new boss.
- unctuous They resented how his unctuous flattery tended to obtrude into serious meetings.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| flattering | rising | |
| sycophantic | rising | |
| obsequious | rising | |
| ingratiating | steady | |
| unctuous | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- oily2
- 6 letters
- smooth1, smarmy2
- 7 letters
- courtly2, fawning2
- 8 letters
- becoming3, flattery3, unctuous2
- 9 letters
- parasitic4, wheedling, adulatory
- 10 letters
- obsequious4
- 11 letters
- sycophantic4
- 12 letters
- ingratiating5
- 13 letters
- complimentary5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (oily2 = 2 syllables).