Ingratiation: meaning, definitions and examples
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ingratiation
[ ɪnˌɡreɪʃiˈeɪʃən ]
social interaction
The action of trying to gain favor or approval from someone by using flattery or praise.
Synonyms
adulation, flattery, sycophancy.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| ingratiation |
Used when someone is trying to win favor or approval by making an effort to please others.
|
| flattery |
Used when someone compliments others excessively, often insincerely, to gain some advantage or favor.
|
| sycophancy |
Used in a negative context to describe the act of being obsequious or overly attentive to someone in authority to gain favor. It implies insincerity.
|
| adulation |
Used to describe excessive admiration or praise, often in a way that seems over the top.
|
Examples of usage
- She attempted to win the boss's favor through ingratiation.
- He often resorts to ingratiation to get what he wants.
psychology
The process of trying to make oneself more attractive or likeable to others, often through compliments or agreeable behavior.
Synonyms
buttering up, fawning, obsequiousness.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| ingratiation |
This term is often used in a more formal setting to describe the act of trying to make someone like you by doing things to please them. It can be neutral or slightly negative, depending on the context.
|
| fawning |
This word conveys a sense of excessive or exaggerated flattery, often appearing desperate or sycophantic, and typically has a negative connotation.
|
| obsequiousness |
This term is used to describe a subservient or excessively obedient attitude toward someone in authority. It is a formal word and carries a very negative connotation.
|
| buttering up |
This is an informal phrase typically used in everyday conversation. It implies flattery or doing favors to gain favor or advantage, and often carries a negative connotation.
|
Examples of usage
- Her ingratiation with her new colleagues was evident in the way she constantly praised their work.
- The politician's ingratiation with the voters was seen as insincere.
Translations
Translations of the word "ingratiation" in other languages:
🇵🇹 adulação
🇮🇳 चापलूसी
🇩🇪 Einschmeicheln
🇮🇩 menjilat
🇺🇦 підлабузництво
🇵🇱 pochlebstwo
🇯🇵 ごますり
🇫🇷 flatterie
🇪🇸 adulación
🇹🇷 yaltaklanma
🇰🇷 아첨
🇸🇦 تملق
🇨🇿 podlézání
🇸🇰 podlizovanie
🇨🇳 讨好
🇸🇮 prilizovanje
🇮🇸 smjaðri
🇰🇿 жағымпаздық
🇬🇪 მლიქვნელობა
🇦🇿 yaltanmaq
🇲🇽 adulación
Etymology
The word 'ingratiation' comes from the Latin word 'ingratiari', which means 'to bring oneself into favor'. Ingratiation has been a common social behavior throughout history, as people have always sought to gain favor or approval from others. Ingratiation can be seen in various contexts, from social interactions to professional relationships, where individuals use flattery or compliments to win others over. The concept of ingratiation has been studied in psychology to understand its impact on interpersonal relationships and social dynamics.
See also: ingratiate.
Word Frequency Rank
Ranking #39,251, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.