ingratiate

[ in-grey-shee-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, in·gra·ti·at·ed, in·gra·ti·at·ing.

1. to establish (oneself or another person) in the favor or good graces of someone, especially by deliberate effort (usually followed by with ):

   He ingratiated himself with all the guests.

   She ingratiated her colleagues with her well-researched project proposal.

ingratiate

/ ɪnˈɡreɪʃɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. troften foll bywith to place (oneself) purposely in the favour (of another)

Derived Forms

• inˈgratiˌating, adjective
• inˌgratiˈation, noun
• inˈgratiˌatingly, adverb

Other Words From

• in·gra·ti·a·tion [in-grey-shee-, ey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• in·gra·ti·a·to·ry [in-, grey, -shee-, uh, -tawr-ee], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ingratiate¹

First recorded in 1615–25; perhaps from Latin in grātiam “into favor,” after Italian ingraziare; in, grace, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ingratiate¹

C17: from Latin, from in- ² + grātia grace, favour

Example Sentences

Whatever his background, Peltz allegedly managed to ingratiate himself with Hammond, who started at Bloomberg in 2015.

From Washington Post

I attempted to ingratiate myself, politely stood up to her and let the tears fall as she insulted me.

From Washington Post

Perhaps he hopes to ingratiate himself with the Taliban as US and Western influence wanes.

From The Daily Beast

What motivated that leak though was a need to ingratiate himself to the people of Hong Kong and China.

From The Daily Beast

They ingratiate themselves with the Nationalists instead of supporting their own.

From The Daily Beast

“We tried incredibly hard to ingratiate ourselves to Sarah Palin and her family,” said Broomfield in an interview.

From The Daily Beast

Patricia Kluge tried to ingratiate herself with her neighbor the queen, but was continually snubbed.

From The Daily Beast

De Luynes presented her at court with instructions to ingratiate herself with the queen—Anne of Austria—and the king.

From Project Gutenberg

I did my utmost to ingratiate myself with her, for I knew that if any one could obtain the information I required she would do so.

From Project Gutenberg

In my opinion, you came simply to ingratiate yourself with Mr. Murray, and your conduct to-day has proved it.

From Project Gutenberg

He would show an interest in the family and ingratiate himself in that way; he would be asking after the children next.

From Project Gutenberg

He felt that he was taking an unreasoning dislike for the apologising Thomas, so anxious to ingratiate himself.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• flatter