noun
flattery
FLAT-er-ee/ˈflætəri/
Excessive or insincere praise meant to gain favor.
The visitor's sudden applause is flattery, offered only when the painter arrives.
Etymology
Flaterie already meant cajolery: praise used to coax or win someone over. Its related verb also meant caressing and deceiving, though that verb’s deeper origin is uncertain.
In context
… it was by using the bewitching engine of flattery that rulers appealed to the natural vanity of human beings by persuading them that they were rational creatures …
More examples
- His flattery does not fool anyone at the meeting.
- I want honest feedback, not flattery.
- The salesperson's flattery makes me question every compliment.
Forms
flattery · flatteries
flatter verb — Praise excessively or insincerely to gain favor.
flatterer noun — Someone who praises others insincerely for personal advantage.
Similar words
- cajolery
- Persuasive praise or coaxing aimed at overcoming someone's reluctance.
- adulation
- Excessive admiration that may be sincere rather than manipulative.