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
Olivia Truffaut-Wong, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026
Fitz did not ingratiate himself with former head coach Eric Ramsay, and Fitz did not play in any of the three first-round playoff matches against Seattle Sounders.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2026
Patrick, meanwhile, begins ingratiating himself with the neighbors and with Alice, and later Margot.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
That has led to criticism that Amazon was ponying up such a huge some as a way to ingratiate the company with the Trumps.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ingratiate
Cite this Entry
“Ingratiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ingratiate. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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ingratiate
verb
