The article flatly contradicts their claims.flatlyflat‧ly /ˈflætli/ adverb 
He flatly denied ever having met the woman.2without showing any emotion: ‘Aunt Alicia has changed her will,’ she said flatly.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- He said flatly that there was no chance of a reconciliation.
- He had spoken very flatly, making his introduction sound like a threat.
- It is also true that the two main Opposition parties have energy policies which are flatly contradicted by their environmental policies.
- When she had first proposed doing the piece, her bosses had flatly turned down her proposal.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The article flatly contradicts their claims.
The article flatly contradicts their claims. (=very definitely and directly)· In the interview, he flatly denied that charge.
(=in a firm and definite way)· He flatly refused to tell me anything.
(=in a firm and definite way)· He flatly rejected the rebel’s demands.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB· It is also true that the two main Opposition parties have energy policies which are flatly contradicted by their environmental policies.· Since the trauma of 1929, few people contest this need, although it flatly contradicts the tradition of economic liberalism.
· The allegation that there had been a military show of strength was flatly denied by Yakovlev on May 4.· Many scientists flatly denied the possibility.· No member of the family knew her exact age and whatever they might have guessed she would have denied flatly.· This, indeed, is something which the average person will at first flatly deny.· But Democrats flatly denied that the subcommittee already had unanimously agreed to recommend a reprimand.
· She had refused flatly to consider him as her groom, but the time of reckoning was at hand.· Two districts, Arlington and Alexandria, flatly refused to tell him anything.· Bernard says he flatly refuses to be done anywhere else.· She proceeded to tell him a joke so corny that Uncle Billy would have flatly refused it for his own collection.· She caused upset by demanding that her own bodyguards handle security arrangements during the ceremony, a request that was flatly refused.· Then the Park District flatly refused to issue them a permit.· Few of these grants were easily elicited, some were decidedly difficult to extract, and occasional demands were flatly refused.· I flatly refuse to accept any contradictions on this point.
· FitzGerald flatly rejects this claim, but on this point her argument strikes me as thin.· Peres brought the plan to Shamir, who flatly rejected it.· He flatly rejected the pleas of Aung San to stand for election.· The army has flatly rejected these findings.
· This would have to be their last telephone conversation, he said flatly.
WORD FAMILYnounflatflatnessadverbflatflatlyadjectiveflatverbflatten
1flatly refuse/deny/oppose etc something to say something in a direct and definite way that is not likely to change: He flatly denied ever having met the woman.2without showing any emotion: ‘Aunt Alicia has changed her will,’ she said flatly.