Ingratiate
verb
To make someone like you or feel closer to you by doing things to please them.
He's been trying to ingratiate himself with the new boss by working late every day.
Often appears as...
- ingratiate oneself with
- ingratiate himself
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To make someone like you or feel closer to you by doing things to please them.
He's been trying to ingratiate himself with the new boss by working late every day.
Often appears as...
- ingratiate oneself with
- ingratiate himself
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Context Sensitive
Ingratiate is often used when someone's effort to please is very noticeable.
She tried to ingratiate herself with the judges by complimenting them.
Pro Tip 2/3Possibly Negative
Ingratiate may suggest trying too hard in a way that appears insincere.
His attempts to ingratiate himself with the celebrity seemed desperate.
Pro Tip 3/3Power Dynamics
Used when someone tries gaining favor with someone more powerful or influential.
The intern tried to ingratiate himself with the senior managers.
Pro Tip 1/3Context Sensitive
Ingratiate is often used when someone's effort to please is very noticeable.
She tried to ingratiate herself with the judges by complimenting them.
Pro Tip 2/3Possibly Negative
Ingratiate may suggest trying too hard in a way that appears insincere.
His attempts to ingratiate himself with the celebrity seemed desperate.
Pro Tip 3/3Power Dynamics
Used when someone tries gaining favor with someone more powerful or influential.
The intern tried to ingratiate himself with the senior managers.
Pro Tip 1/3Context Sensitive
Ingratiate is often used when someone's effort to please is very noticeable.
She tried to ingratiate herself with the judges by complimenting them.
Pro Tip 2/3Possibly Negative
Ingratiate may suggest trying too hard in a way that appears insincere.
His attempts to ingratiate himself with the celebrity seemed desperate.
Pro Tip 3/3Power Dynamics
Used when someone tries gaining favor with someone more powerful or influential.
The intern tried to ingratiate himself with the senior managers.
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Video examples
A radical experiment in...
knowing what was what and what was next and then I asked myself a question I say how is it possible that we could be so poor here in the United States because the coal is such a wealthy resources so much money and I realize because the Chinese ingratiate themselves with a
Video examples
Sam Richards: A radical...
not knowing what was what and what was next. And I asked myself the How is it possible that we could be so poor here in the United States, because coal is such a wealthy resource; it's so much money? And I because the Chinese ingratiated themselves
Video examples
Black Women and the...
organize um and it's important to say black women don't spend all their time trying to if you will ingratiate themselves into those associations and instead build their own political movement by way of organizations
Video examples
A radical experiment in...
knowing what was what and what was next and then I asked myself a question I say how is it possible that we could be so poor here in the United States because the coal is such a wealthy resources so much money and I realize because the Chinese ingratiate themselves with a
Video examples
Sam Richards: A radical...
not knowing what was what and what was next. And I asked myself the How is it possible that we could be so poor here in the United States, because coal is such a wealthy resource; it's so much money? And I because the Chinese ingratiated themselves
Video examples
Black Women and the...
organize um and it's important to say black women don't spend all their time trying to if you will ingratiate themselves into those associations and instead build their own political movement by way of organizations
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Teju Cole
Nigerian Writer
Probably the biggest temptation that young writers face is to be entertaining, to show your bag of tricks and do a bit of tap dancing. I read a lot of things, and I keep seeing this brocade of voice where someone is trying to be too pally with you or ingratiating on the page.
Quote examples
Tina Fey
American Comedian
Somewhere around the fifth or seventh grade I figured out that I could ingratiate myself to people by making them laugh. Essentially, I was just trying to make them like me. But after a while it became part of my identity.
Quote examples
Vladimir Putin
Russian Statesman
In almost any country, probably in Russia in particular, it's fashionable to criticise people in power. If you come out in support of someone like me, you're going to be accused of trying to ingratiate yourself.
Quote examples
Mitski
Japanese Musician
Whenever I've tried to ingratiate myself to an existing community, I tend to give too much, to become whatever it is they want me to be. It's something I do automatically - I've learnt to immediately adapt.
Quote examples
Gabrielle Union
American Actress
A lot of women seem to think the way to ingratiate themselves is to put down other women or backstab. That's the quickest way to be eliminated from my life - try that with me, and you're out.
Quote examples
Samuel Johnson
English Writer
There are few things that we so unwillingly give up, even in advanced age, as the supposition that we still have the power of ingratiating ourselves with the fair sex.
Quote examples
Lawrence O'Donnell
American Journalist
I don't for one second spend any time thinking about carefully ingratiating myself with someone for the future.
Quote examples
George Blagden
English Actor
It's hard when you are trying to ingratiate yourself in a completely foreign world. It takes a long time.
Quote examples
Daniel Clowes
American Author
I tend to be the type who is overly polite and sort of ingratiating to other people.
Quote examples
Bill Dedman
American Journalist
Jason McDermott can be the most ingratiating young man: a born politician.
Quote examples
Teju Cole
Nigerian Writer
Probably the biggest temptation that young writers face is to be entertaining, to show your bag of tricks and do a bit of tap dancing. I read a lot of things, and I keep seeing this brocade of voice where someone is trying to be too pally with you or ingratiating on the page.
Quote examples
Tina Fey
American Comedian
Somewhere around the fifth or seventh grade I figured out that I could ingratiate myself to people by making them laugh. Essentially, I was just trying to make them like me. But after a while it became part of my identity.
Quote examples
Vladimir Putin
Russian Statesman
In almost any country, probably in Russia in particular, it's fashionable to criticise people in power. If you come out in support of someone like me, you're going to be accused of trying to ingratiate yourself.
Quote examples
Mitski
Japanese Musician
Whenever I've tried to ingratiate myself to an existing community, I tend to give too much, to become whatever it is they want me to be. It's something I do automatically - I've learnt to immediately adapt.
Quote examples
Gabrielle Union
American Actress
A lot of women seem to think the way to ingratiate themselves is to put down other women or backstab. That's the quickest way to be eliminated from my life - try that with me, and you're out.
Quote examples
Samuel Johnson
English Writer
There are few things that we so unwillingly give up, even in advanced age, as the supposition that we still have the power of ingratiating ourselves with the fair sex.
Quote examples
Lawrence O'Donnell
American Journalist
I don't for one second spend any time thinking about carefully ingratiating myself with someone for the future.
Quote examples
George Blagden
English Actor
It's hard when you are trying to ingratiate yourself in a completely foreign world. It takes a long time.
Quote examples
Daniel Clowes
American Author
I tend to be the type who is overly polite and sort of ingratiating to other people.
Quote examples
Bill Dedman
American Journalist
Jason McDermott can be the most ingratiating young man: a born politician.
Example 1 of 10
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