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

See Examples For:

ingratiation

He understood that one of the peculiar things about comedy is that the line between irritation and ingratiation could easily blur.

From New York Times ● Feb. 20, 2023

Deceptive ingratiation can mean laughing at unfunny jokes, and honest ingratiation can be connecting with the interviewer over real shared interests, like hiking or watching the Knicks.

From New York Times ● Feb. 17, 2022

Because Childress uses the play’s structure to express her theme, the ingratiation naturally comes first, and Charles Randolph-Wright’s lively staging leads with warmth and humor.

From New York Times ● Nov. 18, 2021

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

On the other hand, cringing ingratiation sounded in every word addressed to him by his female clients.

From Yama: the pit by Bernard Guilbert Guerney