ingratiation

[ in-grey-shee-ey-shuhn ]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ingratiation¹

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

Example Sentences

They are ingratiating and earnest, with no anger and no edge.

From MIT Technology Review

Therefore, ingratiating itself into the entrepreneurial portion of any burgeoning star’s career could prove a windfall for NBCUniversal.

From Digiday

Blair never made the mistake of underestimating Brooks, and his own considerable powers of ingratiation were exercised on her.

From The Daily Beast

He had prepared himself to be ingratiating; but he realized that ingratiation was not a successful line to pursue with dragons.

From Project Gutenberg

For Gordy, when absolutely forced to face an unknown woman, could bring to the encounter a certain bluff ingratiation.

From Project Gutenberg

He petted her, and she slid into his arms with a child-like ingratiation that made his heart swell with pity.

From Project Gutenberg

The qualities of ingratiation and friendliness departed from M. Garfunkel's smile, leaving it wholly apologetic.

From Project Gutenberg

He could not resist her beauty, her warmth, her ingratiation.

From Project Gutenberg