flattening

verb

present participle of flatten
1
as in smoothing
to make free from breaks, curves, or bumps flattened out the wrinkled paper before attempting to trace the pattern

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in overcoming
to defeat by a large margin if you don't understand the rules, you're going to get flattened when you try to play

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flattening But ice, in addition to flattening the soda, will invite you to take longer, let it get diluted, and deflate the texture. — Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2026 Lighting director Frédéric Dorieux has said that the team aims for light that is soft, even, and full without flattening the face. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 3 Oct. 2026 And there are no placards festooned with Motel 6 and Starbucks logos, flattening the American landscape into a homogeneous blur. — David Alm, Longreads, 1 Oct. 2026 Useful feedback can sharpen the execution without flattening the personality. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 29 Sep. 2026 Vibration disturbs the natural sediments in wine, flattening the flavor and aging it prematurely. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026 For one, housing prices are flattening, and in some markets there is an excess supply of houses on the market. — Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Sep. 2026 Shaving down the error Instead of building costly new equipment, the team solved the issue by flattening the material’s surface using a Cooling Cross-section Polisher. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026 Reading history has a way of flattening the courage of the moment, making political action seem inevitable in hindsight. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flattening
  1. smoothing
  2. overcoming
  3. burying
  4. whipping
  5. bombing
  6. trimming
  7. throwing
  8. dusting
Verb
  • Wireless, shaping and smoothing bra styles and underwear packs are also available.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The brand has also become a go-to for figure-flattering wardrobe staples that combine timeless designs and smoothing, comfortable fabrics that work with you rather than against you.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of smoothing
Verb
  • Others discussed overcoming the initial awkwardness of the work and finding satisfaction in helping doctors become more competent and compassionate.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • These productions focused on accessibility, particularly for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences, rather than overcoming language barriers.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of overcoming
Verb
  • The Florida woman accused of killing her boyfriend and burying him in a shallow grave was found guilty of his murder.
    — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The limits of burying the bad news Each of these interventions, whether reckless, self-destructive trade barriers, massive military invasions, or offensive divisive speeches, soaks up attention.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of burying
Verb
  • Now imagine whipping your phone out after work, telling the world about it, and landing a brand deal worth $10K or more.
    — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Now imagine the same hot and dry conditions, but with the Santa Anas whipping at 40 miles an hour.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of whipping
Verb
  • Russia has been bombing Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, forcing Ukraine to rely increasingly on river ports on the Danube and shipping routes close to the coasts of NATO members Bulgaria and Romania.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The United States began bombing Iran on February 28 with the goal of destroying the country’s nuclear program, its missile program, and even its government, only to fail spectacularly at each objective.
    — Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of bombing
Verb
  • Rather than trimming that weight, Fukushima's lab asked whether anything needed to be worn at all.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Spectator interference became the ruling, and Volpe was awarded an RBI double that scored Lombard from first base, trimming Tampa Bay's lead to 4-3.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of trimming
Verb
  • Jayden Daniels nearly salvaged the night without his top weapon, throwing second-half touchdown passes to Stefon Diggs and Rachaad White to cut the deficit to 23-17 before the 49ers' defense held firm on Washington's final possession.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • His final output was nothing to write home about, throwing for 264 yards to no touchdowns and one interception, but Dieffenbach more than passed the eye test.
    — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of throwing
Verb
  • Evening jackets were everywhere on the fall runways—floor-dusting velvet opera coats, sharp tuxedos, and metallic brocade—while the key occasion dress emerged as a flapper-style drop waist.
    — Madeline Fass, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2026
  • How To Deep Clean Stained Wood Baseboards For stained wood baseboards, Matthews advises dusting using a dry microfiber cloth and Murphy’s Oil or a wood cleaning oil (remove excessive dirt and crumbs with a vacuum cleaner first).
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of dusting

Browse Nearby Words

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flattening
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Cite this Entry

“Flattening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flattening. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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