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Flatter vs Exaggerate - What's the difference?

flatter | exaggerate |

As verbs the difference between flatter and exaggerate

is that flatter is to compliment someone, often insincerely and sometimes to win favour while exaggerate is to overstate, to describe more than is fact.

As a noun flatter

is a type of set tool used by blacksmiths.

As an adjective flatter

is comparative of flat.

flatter

English

Etymology 1

Noun

(wikipedia flatter) (en noun)
  • A type of set tool used by blacksmiths.
  • A flat-faced fulling hammer.
  • A drawplate with a narrow, rectangular orifice, for drawing flat strips such as watch springs.
  • Someone who flattens, purposely or accidently. Also flattener.
  • (British, NZ, slang) Someone who lives in a rented flat.
  • Adjective

    (head)
  • (flat)
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) flatteren, . More at (l).

    Verb

    (en-verb) (transitive'' and ''intransitive )
  • to compliment someone, often insincerely and sometimes to win favour
  • * Bible, Proverbs xxix. 5
  • A man that flattereth his neighbour, spreadeth a net for his feet.
  • * Prescott
  • Others he flattered by asking their advice.
  • to enhance someone's vanity by praising them
  • to portray something to advantage.
  • Her portrait flatters her.
  • to convey notions of the facts that are believed to be favorable to the hearer without certainty of the truthfulness of the notions conveyed.
  • exaggerate

    English

    Verb

    (exaggerat)
  • To overstate, to describe more than is fact.
  • I've told you a billion times not to exaggerate !
    He said he'd slept with hundreds of girls, but I know he's exaggerating . The real number is about ten.

    Synonyms

    * overexaggerate * overstate

    Antonyms

    * (overstate) downplay, understate

    Derived terms

    * exaggeratedly * exaggeratingly * exaggerative * exaggeratively * exaggerativeness * exaggerator * exaggeratory