definitions

ingratiate

[ in-grey-shee-eyt ]
/ ɪnˈgreɪ ʃiˌeɪt /
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verb (used with object), in·gra·ti·at·ed, in·gra·ti·at·ing.

to establish (oneself or someone else) in the favor or good graces of someone, especially by deliberate effort (usually followed by with): He ingratiated himself with all the guests. She ingratiated her colleagues with her well-researched project proposal.

RELATED WORDS

honey, fawning, exaggeration, blandishment, incense, adulation, oil, baloney, wheedling, coaxing, overpraise, eyewash, cajolery, approbation, stroke, plaudits, servility, snow, tribute, palaver

Nearby words

ingraft, ingrain, ingrained, ingram, ingrate, ingratiate, ingratiating, ingratitude, ingravescent, ingredient, ingres

Origin of ingratiate

1615–25; perhaps < Latin in grātiam into favor, after Italian ingraziare. See in, grace, -ate1

Related forms

in·gra·ti·a·tion, nounin·gra·ti·a·to·ry [in-grey-shee-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ɪnˈgreɪ ʃi əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ingratiation

British Dictionary definitions for ingratiation

ingratiate

/ (ɪnˈɡreɪʃɪˌeɪt) /

verb

(tr often foll by with) to place (oneself) purposely in the favour (of another)

Derived Forms

ingratiating or ingratiatory, adjectiveingratiatingly, adverbingratiation, noun

Word Origin for ingratiate

C17: from Latin, from in- ² + grātia grace, favour
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012