ingratiate
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ingratiate
First recorded in 1615–25; perhaps from Latin in grātiam “into favor,” after Italian ingraziare; see in, grace, -ate 1
Explanation
To ingratiate is to make obvious efforts to gain someone's favor, in other words — to kiss up to someone. Ingratiate has not strayed much from its Latin roots, in gratiam, (in plus gratia meaning "favor") which means "in favor" or "for the favor of." To ingratiate is to gain the favor of someone by doing lots of favors to the point of being a nudge. Like the teacher's pet who answers every question, stays after class to clean the chalkboard, and brings the teacher an apple every day. When you ingratiate yourself to people, you risk annoying them — like a little dog nipping at their heels.
Vocabulary lists containing ingratiate
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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.
See Examples For:
Lubinets -- a lawyer by training and an ex-MP -- also faced criticism, with one Ukrainian soldier accusing him on Facebook of being "all too eager to smile and ingratiate himself with the killers".
From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026
It did not take long for Garrett to ingratiate himself.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026
Ross, meanwhile, is trying to ingratiate himself with and improve the local community by funding scholarships for hundreds of local public high-school students to attend a nearby community college.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026
But when Oliver walks into the store, entourage in tow, Matthew makes a play to ingratiate himself with the pop star that goes better than he ever could’ve expected.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2025
Although there were a number of scythes who turned a cold shoulder, even more crowded them, seeking to ingratiate themselves.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
If Rulli had not already ingratiated himself to City supporters with that moment against their rivals, then he will have rubberstamped the affection on Wednesday night.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026
“He ingratiated himself knowing that one day, he could use that information to defraud clients of thousands of dollars, eventually totaling in the millions,” Savery said Monday in a Santa Ana courtroom.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2026
In a series of maneuvers fit for a John le Carré story, Mercader slowly ingratiated himself into the Trotsky household.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026
Oil companies have ingratiated themselves to investors since the pandemic by doing the exact opposite: ruling out expensive investments in new drilling in favor of spending that money on bigger dividends.
From Barron's ● Jan. 9, 2026
Either way, you'll have ingratiated yourselves with the king.
From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz
He would begin a performance with Glass at the piano, bestowing an ingratiating quality of quiet pleasure on Ginsberg’s flowery imagery.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026
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
The way his mother was, now, bright and ingratiating and altogether without pride.
From "I'm the King of the Castle" by Susan Hill
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
