designed to flatter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "designed to flatter" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing something that has been created or intended to make someone feel good or to praise them. Example: "The speech was carefully crafted and designed to flatter the audience, ensuring they felt appreciated and valued."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Fashion

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Take first those designed to flatter profits.

The Economist

I think parliament is designed to flatter the two old parties.

The Guardian

Wrap dress If a dress was ever designed to flatter a woman's figure, this is it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Photographers loved de Ribes's profile, and many of the gowns — her own and others' — were designed to flatter it.

The New Yorker

Flagging up these priorities so publicly was hardly designed to flatter a nation which views a chip on both shoulders as a sign of balance.

The Guardian - Opinion

An artful reworking of Conan Doyle, with Sherlock Holmes transplanted to 14th-century Italy, the book's baggage of arcane erudition was designed to flatter the average reader's intelligence.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Stock icons and the once-bubbly default keyboard and dialer have been designed to look flatter and less skeuomorphic, and HTC has dumped its usual font in favor of Roboto Condensed, which imbues the UI with a much cleaner vibe.

TechCrunch

It sounds mechanistic, but in some ways, it doesn't really matter what the player actions achieve in terms of the game's setting or defined goals, what matters is that games are designed to specifically court and flatter our desire for autonomy.

The Guardian - Tech

School blazers are designed to take away your shape, not flatter it.

WikiHow

"All its propaganda is designed to feed the myth of the war, to flatter and threaten the people," she said.

The New York Times - Books

The resultant force of lateral earth pressure is commonly used in the design of nearly vertical walls while flatter slopes are designed to be internally stable using a factor of safety approach.

Soils and Foundations

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "designed to flatter", ensure that the context clearly indicates what aspect is intended to be flattering. Be specific about the target of the flattery, whether it's a person's appearance, intellect, or ego.

Common error

Avoid using "designed to flatter" in situations where objectivity is crucial. Overusing the phrase can suggest insincerity or manipulation, especially when describing reviews, reports, or analyses.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "designed to flatter" functions as a verb phrase indicating the purpose or intention behind a particular design or action. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it highlights that the design's primary goal is to elicit a favorable response through praise or appeasement.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Lifestyle

20%

Books

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "designed to flatter" is a verb phrase used to describe the intention behind a design or action to elicit a favorable emotional response through praise. Grammatically correct, it is commonly used in various contexts such as News & Media, Lifestyle, and books. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is usable in written English and highlights its use in describing something created to make someone feel good or to praise them.

While versatile, it's important to be mindful of the context and avoid overuse to prevent implications of insincerity. Alternatives like "intended to praise" or "meant to compliment" can offer subtle variations in meaning. The top sources are The Guardian, The New Yorker, The New York Times, Forbes and Huffington Post.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intended to praise

Focuses on the intention behind the design rather than the design itself.

meant to compliment

Similar to "intended to praise" but emphasizes the act of complimenting.

created to ingratiate

Highlights the purpose of gaining favor or acceptance.

aimed at pleasing

Emphasizes the goal of making someone happy or satisfied.

fashioned to charm

Suggests a deliberate effort to be attractive or delightful.

contrived to appeal

Highlights a calculated attempt to be attractive or interesting.

geared toward adulation

Focuses on the goal of receiving excessive admiration or praise.

custom-built for admiration

Emphasizes that the design was specific and personalized to promote admiration.

purposely made to impress

Highlights the deliberate intent to create a strong, positive impression.

calculated to win favor

Emphasizes a strategic approach to gaining approval or support.

FAQs

How can I use "designed to flatter" in a sentence?

You can use "designed to flatter" to describe something created with the intention of making someone feel good or to praise them. For example, "The marketing campaign was "designed to flatter" potential customers."

What are some alternatives to "designed to flatter"?

Alternatives include "intended to praise", "meant to compliment", or "aimed at pleasing", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it always negative to say something is "designed to flatter"?

Not necessarily. While it can imply insincerity or manipulation, it can also simply mean that something was created to be pleasing or complimentary. The connotation depends heavily on the context.

What's the difference between "designed to flatter" and "intended to impress"?

"Designed to flatter" focuses on making someone feel good about themselves, while "intended to impress" focuses on creating a positive and often awe-inspiring perception. The former is more about ego boosting, and the latter about demonstrating excellence.