ingratiate

[in-grey-shee-eyt]

verb (used with object)

ingratiated, ingratiating 

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

   He ingratiated himself with all the guests.

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

ingratiate

/ ɪnˈɡreɪʃɪˌeɪt /

verb

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

Other Word Forms

• ingratiation noun
• ingratiatory adjective
• ingratiating adjective
• ingratiatingly adverb

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

Her notes outline plans to found an international bank, buy a Swedish castle, and even to ingratiate herself with a British duke.

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Dahmer, however, was something else – a serial killing cannibal whose average appearance enabled him to ingratiate himself to Milwaukee’s policemen.

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The theory, perhaps, is that ingratiating themselves to the locals during this week's tune-ups might soften the vitriol which comes their way over the weekend.

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“He really has that servant leadership mentality behind the plate, which has really ingratiated himself with a lot of our pitchers.”

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Andy looks like a human adult but behaves like an awkward, stammering middle-schooler eager to ingratiate himself with his peers by telling toothless jokes straight out of a Scholastic pun manual.

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Related Words

• flatter