as in charming
likely or intended to win one's affection
one of the orphans had a most ingratiating smile
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ingratiating
Armond White, National Review, 20 Oct. 2021
While Virginia Madsen plays the lead, an ingratiating, ambitious graduate student Helen Lyle, it’s Tony Todd as the titular villain that proves to be a crucial reason for why the film endures.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2021
Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
Newly acquired Green Bay Packers star pass-rusher Micah Parsons wasted no time ingratiating himself into the Packers-Detroit Lions rivalry.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ingratiating
Adjective
As a lord, this Othello is a little vulgar — too ingratiating, a boaster, an arrogant man.
—Armond White, National Review, 20 Oct. 2021
While Virginia Madsen plays the lead, an ingratiating, ambitious graduate student Helen Lyle, it’s Tony Todd as the titular villain that proves to be a crucial reason for why the film endures.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2021
Verb
Director and star wasted no time ingratiating themselves to the New York audience, with Chalamet mentioning having gone to school right down the street at La Guardia High School and Safdie talking about having last been at NYFF six years ago with Uncut Gems.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
Newly acquired Green Bay Packers star pass-rusher Micah Parsons wasted no time ingratiating himself into the Packers-Detroit Lions rivalry.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ingratiating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ingratiating
Adjective
-
Patrick is certainly slick and charming, but his story hardly passes muster.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Its charming white-stone facade is covered with windows, while red brick stacks throw color into the mix.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Their bread-and-butter is comforting the most comfortable by afflicting the most afflicted.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
For lunch, expect comforting classics like roast beef, turkey with gravy, and Philly cheesesteak.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Those who have followed Tyler James Williams from his days on Everybody Hates Chris know he's always been an adorable kid.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
-
But, right now there are plenty of great discounts to find on kitchen essentials, including these adorable Kate Spade oven mitts and glass storage containers, perfect for leftovers (and reducing plastic usage, a big deal in my home).—
Paige Bennett,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Heads hung low, players consoling one another or screaming obscenities at no one in particular, the care factor off the charts.—
Mirjam Swanson The Orange County Register,
Arkansas Online,
22 Jan. 2026
-
But neighbors in the tent encampment ushered Lolita away from the scene of violence, consoling and protecting her – just as Cornelius did for her years ago.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
29 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Parents are questioning whether four years and six figures are worth it, especially as campuses are increasingly overtaken by chaos, radical activism, and administrators more concerned with appeasing ideological mobs than educating students.—
Riley Gaines OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 Jan. 2026
-
And yet, beneath the veil of politeness, there was rhetoric from the US president that suggests his default position in negotiations is still to pressure Kyiv, while appeasing Moscow.—
Clare Sebastian,
CNN Money,
29 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ingratiating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ingratiating. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
