Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of ingratiating
First recorded in 1635–45; ingratiat(e) + -ing 2
Explanation
If someone in your class places an apple on your teacher's desk in an ingratiating manner, that means he's making a calculated move to suck up and win your teacher's favor. The word ingratiating comes from a combination of the Latin prefix in- meaning "in" and gratia meaning "favor, grace." A person who is ingratiating is trying to get in the favor or grace of those around her. But the word doesn't always have to imply a sly attempt at winning others over, sometimes it can simply mean charming or agreeable. A person's smile can be ingratiating, winning people over simply with its charm.
Vocabulary lists containing ingratiating
Behave Yourself! Vocabulary for Good, Bad, and Indifferent Conduct
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White Fang
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The Crucible, Acts 1–2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The bright, ingratiating and charismatic Saqib is a servant’s son on the Atars’ country estate.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026
He made the most of this connection, flying the Welsh flag and ingratiating himself with locals, who fell for the charms of "this lovely man".
From BBC • Dec. 31, 2025
In person he’s ingratiating, charming, eager to please.
From Slate • Oct. 26, 2024
Both show off Glaser’s gift for grabbing a subject, attacking it from every side, playing smart and dumb, ingratiating and insulting, going sweet or sour.
From New York Times • May 24, 2024
He almost continually flashed about the room the ingratiating boyish smile.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
