ingratiate
What does "ingratiate" mean?
To ingratiate yourself with someone is to deliberately work to gain their favor or approval, often by being overly pleasant or helpful. The mental image is of someone carefully positioning themselves in another person's "good books," often with a sense of calculation or insincerity behind the friendliness. It is almost always used in a negative or critical sense. Because the act is perceived as manipulative, it suggests that the person is "sucking up" or "brown-nosing." You wouldn't use this to describe a genuine friendship; you would use it to describe someone trying to climb the social or professional ladder by flattering a superior.
"ingratiate" in conversation
Office politics
Did you see Mark bringing the boss coffee every morning?
Did you see Mark bringing the boss coffee every morning?
Yeah, he's really trying to ingratiate himself with her before the promotions.
Yeah, he's really trying to ingratiate himself with her before the promotions.
Highlights the calculated nature of the action in a workplace setting.
Social gathering
He spent the whole night laughing at her bad jokes.
He spent the whole night laughing at her bad jokes.
It was painful to watch him try to ingratiate himself with the host.
It was painful to watch him try to ingratiate himself with the host.
Shows how excessive flattery is seen as a sign of this behavior.
"ingratiate" in a sentence
He tried to ingratiate himself with his new neighbors.
He tried to ingratiate himself with his new neighbors.
The intern hoped to ingratiate himself with the CEO by finishing the report early.
The intern hoped to ingratiate himself with the CEO by finishing the report early.
Her constant attempts to ingratiate herself with the committee members ultimately backfired, making her appear disingenuous.
Her constant attempts to ingratiate herself with the committee members ultimately backfired, making her appear disingenuous.
