ingratiation

American  

[in-grey-shee-ey-shuhn] / ɪnˌgreɪ ʃiˈeɪ ʃən /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of ingratiation

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

Example Sentences

There isn’t a drop of ingratiation in it.

From New York Times • Jul. 13, 2023

In black leather pants, he dances across the stage, flirting with the crowd with as much ingratiation as the camera fawningly displays toward him.

From New York Times • Jun. 30, 2023

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 • Nov. 4, 2022

Also part of her strategy is a total lack of ingratiation, not only to authorities, but also to her boyfriend and even to the audience.

From New York Times • Aug. 3, 2020

A hansom cab offers peculiar facilities for the aforesaid process of ingratiation.

From The Morals of Marcus Ordeyne : a Novel by Locke, William John