Flannel — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈfla-nᵊl/ flan·nel

Meaning & Definition of Flannel

Flannel (noun)

  1. a soft twilled wool or worsted fabric with a loose texture and a slightly napped surface
  2. a napped cotton fabric of soft yarns simulating the texture of wool flannel
  3. a stout cotton fabric usually napped on one side

Flannel (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. excessive praise

    "the one cabinet minister who never resorts to flannel—he always tells it like it is"

    similar: adulation, blarney, butter, flattery, incense, overpraise, soft soap, sweet talk, taffy
    related: allurements, blandishments, endearments, caresses, compliments, congratulations, felicitations, greetings, regards, respects, adoration, idolatry, worship, fawning, sycophancy, toadying, cajolement, cajolery, ingratiation, smarm, acclaim, applause, commendation, praise
    near: bad-mouthing, belittlement, depreciation, detraction, disparagement, put-down

  2. language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense

    "the first serious book about the British royal family that wasn't just flannel"

    similar: applesauce (slang), balderdash, baloney, beans, bilge, blah, blarney, blather, blatherskite, blither, bosh, bull (slang), bunk, bunkum, claptrap, codswallop (British), crapola (slang), crock, drivel, drool, fiddle, fiddle-faddle, fiddlesticks, flapdoodle, folderol, folly, foolishness, fudge, garbage, guff, hogwash, hokeypokey, hokum, hoodoo, hooey, horsefeathers (slang), humbug, humbuggery, jazz, malarkey, moonshine, muck, nerts (slang), nonsense, nuts, piffle, poppycock, punk, rot, rubbish, senselessness, silliness, slush, stupidity, taradiddle, tommyrot, tosh, trash, trumpery, twaddle
    related: absurdity, asininity, fatuity, foolery, idiocy, imbecility, inaneness, inanity, insanity, kookiness, lunacy, absurdness, craziness, madness, witlessness, hoity-toity, monkey business, monkeyshine(s), shenanigan(s), tomfoolery, gas, hot air, rigmarole, double-talk, greek, hocus-pocus
    near: levelheadedness, rationality, reasonability, reasonableness, sensibleness, common sense, horse sense, sense, discernment, judgment, wisdom

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Flannel

The most common words with a similar meaning to Flannel:

Slang: applesauce, bull, crapola, horsefeathers, nerts
British: codswallop
adulation, blarney, butter, flattery, incense, overpraise, soft soap, sweet talk, taffy, balderdash, baloney, beans, bilge, blah, blather, blatherskite, blither, bosh, bunk, bunkum, claptrap, crock, drivel, drool, fiddle, fiddle-faddle, fiddlesticks, flapdoodle, folderol, folly, foolishness, fudge, garbage, guff, hogwash, hokeypokey, hokum, hoodoo, hooey, humbug

Related Words for Flannel

allurements, blandishments, endearments, caresses, compliments, congratulations, felicitations, greetings, regards, respects, adoration, idolatry, worship, fawning, sycophancy, toadying, cajolement, cajolery, ingratiation, smarm, acclaim, applause, commendation, praise, absurdity, asininity, fatuity, foolery, idiocy, imbecility

Near Antonyms of Flannel

bad-mouthing, belittlement, depreciation, detraction, disparagement, put-down, levelheadedness, rationality, reasonability, reasonableness, sensibleness, common sense, horse sense, sense, discernment, judgment, wisdom

Word Forms of Flannel

Derived words: flannel (adjective), flannelly (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Flannel

Middle English flaunneol woolen cloth or garment

First known use: 1503

Words & Phrases Containing Flannel

canton flannel, red flannel hash

Frequently Asked Questions about Flannel

What does "Flannel" mean?

"Flannel" means a soft twilled wool or worsted fabric with a loose texture and a slightly napped surface. As a noun, it is defined as: a soft twilled wool or worsted fabric with a loose texture and a slightly napped surface. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Flannel"?

Other words for "Flannel" include adulation, blarney, butter, flattery, incense, overpraise, soft soap and sweet talk. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Flannel" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Flannel"?

There are 118 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Flannel". Common alternatives include adulation, blarney, butter, flattery, incense, overpraise, soft soap, sweet talk, taffy and applesauce.

What is a slang word for "Flannel"?

Slang words for "Flannel" include applesauce, bull, crapola, horsefeathers and nerts.

How do you use "Flannel" in a sentence?

Examples of "Flannel" in a sentence: "the one cabinet minister who never resorts to flannel—he always tells it like it is"; "the first serious book about the British royal family that wasn't just flannel".

Is "Flannel" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Flannel" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Flannel"?

"Flannel" is pronounced /ˈfla-nᵊl/ and divided into syllables as flan·nel.

What is the origin of the word "Flannel"?

"Flannel" comes from Middle English flaunneol woolen cloth or garment. First known use: 1503.