Flatteringly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a manner that expresses excessive praise or admiration meant to please or win favor
2. By offering compliments that may exaggerate positive qualities to gain approval
3. Using words or actions that overly commend someone in order to flatter or impress

Etymology: "Flatteringly" is an adverb built from "flattering" plus the suffix "-ly", the standard English way of turning an adjective into a manner adverb. The adjective itself is the present participle of "flatter," so the adverb describes doing something in a way that sets out to please or win favour. The more interesting part is the path it took to reach that shape. Middle English had an earlier form, "flaterandly," which likely came from the verb "flater" and a participle ending. Over time that form was reshaped, through the alteration recorded as "flateryngly" and "flateringli," until it settled into the spelling we use now, with "flattering" supplying the stem. So the word is less a clean compound than a worn-down form that was later reanalysed as "flattering" plus "-ly."

Synonyms: complimentarily, admiringly, praisingly, approvingly, favorably

Antonyms: disparagingly, critically, negatively, derisively, scornfully