Synonyms of ingratiating

ingratiating 1 of 2

adjective

in-ˈgrā-shē-ˌā-tiŋ 

as in charming

likely or intended to win one's affection

one of the orphans had a most ingratiating smile

Synonyms & Similar Words

• charming
• adorable
• endearing
• affecting
• winning
• insinuating
• disarming
• likable
• winsome
• lovable
• touching
• servile
• deferential
• obsequious
• effusive
• flattering
• sycophantic
• poignant
• saccharine
• oleaginous
• adulatory
• sugary
• soapy
• unctuous
• kowtowing
• fulsome
• groveling
• slobbering
• drooling
• slavering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• alienating
• displeasing
• repulsive
• uningratiating
• repugnant
• arrogant
• unendearing
• haughty
• disaffecting
• insolent
• proud
• scornful
• disdainful

ingratiating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of ingratiate

as in comforting

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.

Related Words

• comforting
• appeasing
• consoling
• satisfying
• placating
• disarming
• mollifying
• conciliating
• contenting
• pacifying
• propitiating
• gratifying
• soothing
• pleasing
• calming
• tranquilizing
• flattering
• assuaging
• endearing (to)
• delighting
• gladdening
• humoring
• quieting
• gentling
• hushing
• coaxing
• wheedling
• satiating
• indulging
• cajoling
• adulating
• overpraising
• quenching
• catering (to)
• mollycoddling
• toadying
• coddling
• pampering
• sating
• truckling
• sweet-talking
• kowtowing
• blarneying
• bootlicking
• sweetening
• babying
• spoiling
• blandishing
• soft-soaping
• dulcifying
• sucking (up)
• apple-polishing
• fussing

Dissimilar Words

• irritating
• aggravating
• antagonizing
• exasperating
• getting
• annoying
• grating
• crossing
• vexing
• nettling
• bothering
• galling
• bugging
• provoking
• riling
• ruffling
• burning (up)
• rousing
• rankling
• roiling
• chafing
• putting out
• irking
• piquing
• harassing
• persecuting
• pestering
• disturbing
• harrying
• upsetting
• distressing
• insulting
• unsettling
• worrying
• perturbing
• discomforting
• agitating
• peeving
• offending
• fretting
• affronting
• unhinging
• slighting
• infuriating
• maddening
• enraging
• angering
• inflaming
• outraging
• incensing
• iring

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ingratiating

Adjective

Still, on a moment-to-moment basis, the film has tension, strong character dynamics and sharp individual portraits whose astringency gets alleviated by Gottsagen and James’ more ingratiating turns. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025

Smith’s tone was self-conscious and ingratiating—at times, obsequious. — Sam Adler-Bell, The New Republic, 7 Mar. 2022

Verb

But zookeepers are positive that Punch is slowly ingratiating himself in the group, and are encouraging his fans to keep their spirits up. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2026

Patrick, meanwhile, begins ingratiating himself with the neighbors and with Alice, and later Margot. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026