flatter vs kowtow

flatter is not a noun while kowtow is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
flatter	No	No	Yes	No
kowtow	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, kowtow is a hyponym of flatter; that is, kowtow is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than flatter:

Other hyponyms of flatter include soft-soap, adulate, stroke, bootlick, fawn, kotow, suck up, toady, truckle, brown-nose, butter up.

flatter (noun)	kowtow (noun)
	a former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission

flatter (verb)	kowtow (verb)
praise somewhat dishonestly	try to gain favor by cringing or flattering
	bend the knees and bow in a servile manner