ingratiate
verb
William Attwood
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When you ingratiate yourself, you put yourself in someone’s good graces in order to gain their approval or favor. While the word ingratiate does not necessarily imply that your behavior is obsequious or otherwise improper, the word may be used disapprovingly by those who distrust your motives. The word entered English in the early 1600s from the combining of the Latin noun gratia, meaning “grace” or “favor,” with the English prefix in-. Gratia comes from the adjective gratus, meaning “pleasing, grateful.” Gratus has, over the centuries, ingratiated itself well with the English language as the ancestor of a whole host of words including gratuitous, congratulate, and grace.
Examples of ingratiate in a Sentence
Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Here are seven tips for ingratiating yourself to editors—and mastering the publishing game.
—Jennifer Fernandez, Architectural Digest, 28 Apr. 2025
In recent months, Zuckerberg has visited the White House repeatedly, and he’s ingratiated himself to the Administration with moves, at Meta, against D.E.I. and fact-checking.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2025
The boys are in their late teens, and Jeff, who dreams of becoming a filmmaker, is eager to ingratiate himself with Blake, who will pick them up in a seaplane and take them to the lodge.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ingratiate
Cite this Entry
“Ingratiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ingratiate. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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ingratiate
verb
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