ingratiating

adjective

in·​gra·​ti·​at·​ing in-ˈgrā-shē-ˌā-tiŋ How to pronounce ingratiating (audio)
1
: intended or adopted in order to gain favor : flattering
2
: capable of winning favor : pleasing
an ingratiating smile
ingratiatingly adverb

Examples of ingratiating in a Sentence

one of the orphans had a most ingratiating smile
Recent Examples on the Web Highly personable and ingratiating but with a tough core, Walters withstood critiques about the softness of her interrogatory style with celebrities and sometimes major political figures as well. Carmel Dagan, Variety, 30 Dec. 2022 Smith’s tone was self-conscious and ingratiating—at times, obsequious. Sam Adler-Bell, The New Republic, 7 Mar. 2022 So Nachminovitch and her workers are unfailingly polite and ingratiating, even when confronting the obstinate, the ignorant, the hostile, the unapologetically inhumane. Gene Weingarten, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2021 As a lord, this Othello is a little vulgar — too ingratiating, a boaster, an arrogant man. Armond White, National Review, 20 Oct. 2021 While Virginia Madsen plays the lead, an ingratiating, ambitious graduate student Helen Lyle, it’s Tony Todd as the titular villain that proves to be a crucial reason for why the film endures. Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2021 Lucy is as isolated and afraid as Rosemary Woodhouse, alone in New York City, surrounded only by men and hostile, ingratiating and untrustworthy women. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2021 Sherwood-Randall was similarly personable and ingratiating, and ferociously ambitious. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 18 Jan. 2021 The scenes of Matt’s education are diverting and overly ingratiating, characterized by snappy edits and broadly deployed comedy. Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ingratiating.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of ingratiating was in 1655

Dictionary Entries Near ingratiating

Cite this Entry

“Ingratiating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ingratiating. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ingratiating

adjective
in·​gra·​ti·​at·​ing
in-ˈgrā-shē-ˌāt-iŋ
1
: pleasing
an ingratiating smile
2
: intended to gain favor
ingratiating manners
ingratiatingly adverb

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