as in to appease
often disapproving
to gain favor or approval for (yourself) by doing or saying things that people like
She has tried to ingratiate herself with voters by promising a tax cut.
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Recent Examples of ingratiate
In ever greater numbers, Elizabeth’s subjects flocked north to ingratiate themselves with the Queen’s likely successor.
—
Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
After Polly ingratiates herself within the Morales family, Caitlyn starts noticing some disturbing behaviors.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
While Carter is getting ingratiated into defensive coordinator Shane Bowen's schemes, edge rusher Brian Burns is having a marvelous season for New York.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
At one point, Oliver suggests that Mable take Camila a gift to ingratiate herself with the woman who is trying to take over their building, to get some insight into her plans.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ingratiate
Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
After Polly ingratiates herself within the Morales family, Caitlyn starts noticing some disturbing behaviors.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
While Carter is getting ingratiated into defensive coordinator Shane Bowen's schemes, edge rusher Brian Burns is having a marvelous season for New York.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
At one point, Oliver suggests that Mable take Camila a gift to ingratiate herself with the woman who is trying to take over their building, to get some insight into her plans.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ingratiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ingratiate
Verb
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To appease conservatives, GOP leaders agreed to separate the Commerce, Justice and science portion from the other two bills.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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The country is now being led by the former Vice-President, Delcy Rodríguez, who is trying to appease Trump and fend off internal challenges, as our foreign correspondent Jon Lee Anderson explains on the latest episode of the Political Scene podcast.—
Ian Crouch,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That’s unlikely to comfort the oil industry that new Venezuelan and US governments don’t change the rules on them years down the line.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
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Season two of the now award-winning, critical and commercial hit medical drama once again kicks things off with Robby heading to the hospital for his shift, but aside from our fearless leader being back on our screens, the whole setup feels less than comforting this time around.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As Juszczyk consoled Kittle, the relentlessly upbeat tight end assured his friend all would be OK.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
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The panicked woman raced over and tried to console her nephew as an onlooker tried to perform CPR on him.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ingratiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ingratiate. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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