[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/unflattering/)

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# unflattering

adjective (unflattering)

«unflattering» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Unflattering means making someone or something look or seem worse than they really are, like an unflattering photo. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unflattering/#m1)
2. Unflattering words are honest but not kind or praising. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unflattering/#m2)

### In the lessons

In everyday life: unflattering photos, clothes, light or haircuts. In media lessons, newspapers can choose unflattering pictures to make someone look bad – a form of bias. In feedback, an unflattering review points out problems.

### Examples

- That photo of me with my eyes shut is so unflattering! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unflattering/#x1)
- The newspaper used an unflattering picture of the mayor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unflattering/#x2)
- Bright yellow light can be unflattering. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unflattering/#x3)
- The critic wrote an unflattering review of the play. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unflattering/#x4)
- The baggy uniform was unflattering on everyone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unflattering/#x5)
- The diary gives an unflattering picture of the queen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unflattering/#x6)

### Note

From «flatter», to praise too much or make look good. Opposite: «flattering». It does not mean «not flat».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «unflattering» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unflattering/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«unflattering» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/unflattering.html) on Mova free.