Meaning & use

ingratiating

adjective·Advanced

Behaving in a way intended to win approval or favor, often insincerely.

See it in a sentence

His ingratiating smile made the interviewer suspicious of his true intentions.

She used an ingratiating tone whenever she needed a favor from her boss.

A note on using this word

Ingratiating usually carries a negative, slightly suspicious tone, suggesting calculated charm rather than genuine warmth.

Words with a similar meaning

fawningflattering

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

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