flatly

Adverb

1. In a physically flat or level manner.
   • He bent over the old woman again, with his ear turned flatly to her lips and then to the region of her heart. - 1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962,...
   • Rabbit country, the working man's uncultivable terrain. Half a mile away, square open patches of yellow sand flatly glittered, and far on the horizon cranes and vast silver cylinders stood about, ghostly shining...
2. In a definite manner; in a manner showing complete certainty.
   • It was an accusation that he flatly denied.
   • In 2017 in Zimbabwe, a military takeover brought Robert Mugabe's 37-year rule to and end. But one of the leaders, Maj Gen Sibusiso Moyo, appeared on television at the time, flatly denying it was a military takeover. -...
3. In a manner that shows no emotion.
   • He replied flatly to the policeman's questions.
   • "Sure you never heard of him?" he asked incredulously. "Never," I said flatly. - 1946, George Johnston, Skyscrapers in the Mist, page 119:
   • "It's barbarous, Norsus." "It's Rome," said the giant flatly. - 1966, James Workman, The Mad Emperor, Melbourne, Sydney: Scripts, page 65: