ingratiate
verb
William Attwood
Did you know?
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
Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 8 July 2025
Durham continued to try to ingratiate himself with Harriman and Lt. Paul Stein, who'd gone to get a warrant for his blood, the detective testified.
—Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 7 May 2025
Season 1 was all about Ellie trying to ingratiate herself with Joel, her protector.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
With both older and younger users, the stigma is being eroded by convenience and accessibility, and Suno is positioned to ingratiate itself to a world that is normalizing generative art.
—Sheldon Pearce, NPR, 17 June 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 14 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ingratiate
verb
Share