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
• consoling
• appeasing
• satisfying
• placating
• disarming
• contenting
• mollifying
• conciliating
• pacifying
• soothing
• propitiating
• pleasing
• gratifying
• calming
• tranquilizing
• flattering
• assuaging
• endearing (to)
• delighting
• humoring
• gladdening
• quieting
• gentling
• hushing
• coaxing
• indulging
• wheedling
• satiating
• 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

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

So Nachminovitch and her workers are unfailingly polite and ingratiating, even when confronting the obstinate, the ignorant, the hostile, the unapologetically inhumane. — Gene Weingarten, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2021

Verb

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

The shot was redirected home by Marchment, ingratiating him with his new chums. — Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 21 Dec. 2025