ingratiate
verb
William Attwood
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When you ingratiate yourself, you put yourself in someone’s good graces in order to gain their approval or favor. While the word ingratiate does not necessarily imply that your behavior is obsequious or otherwise improper, the word may be used disapprovingly by those who distrust your motives. The word entered English in the early 1600s from the combining of the Latin noun gratia, meaning “grace” or “favor,” with the English prefix in-. Gratia comes from the adjective gratus, meaning “pleasing, grateful.” Gratus has, over the centuries, ingratiated itself well with the English language as the ancestor of a whole host of words including gratuitous, congratulate, and grace.
Examples of ingratiate in a Sentence
Jonathan Swan, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 May 2025
While that may not last the rest of the season – the Yankees expect Luis Gil back from a lat strain this summer – he’s certainly ingratiated himself.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025
With this move, Saudi Arabia is seeking to punish lack of compliance and also ingratiate itself with President Trump.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
The man wielding that chainsaw — literally on stage at a conservative political conference in late February — has been Elon Musk, the world's richest man, CEO of Tesla and founder of SpaceX.
Musk ingratiated himself with Trump by donating millions for his presidential campaign.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ingratiate
Cite this Entry
“Ingratiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ingratiate. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
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ingratiate
verb
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