ingratiation

[ in-grey-shee-ey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of establishing oneself in the favor or good graces of someone, especially by deliberate effort in order to influence or manipulate:

   I struggle to free my store staff—and myself—from this constant dignity-sapping, servile ingratiation with customers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ingratiation¹

ingrati(ate) ( def ) + -ation ( def )

Example Sentences

There isn’t a drop of ingratiation in it.

From New York Times

And yet, the ingratiation, however distracting, is also strategic.

From New York Times

His first song, usually in musicals a moment for ingratiation, is instead a bitter snit called “How Can I Call This Home?”

From New York Times

He understood that one of the peculiar things about comedy is that the line between irritation and ingratiation could easily blur.

From New York Times

And so they escalate their efforts at ingratiation, plotting disastrous reunions first with Hilda’s estranged sister, and then with her former flame.

From New York Times