ingratiating
Trying too hard
Ingratiating describes behavior calculated to win favor, often through excessive flattery or agreeableness: an ingratiating smile, his ingratiating manner with the boss.
The word carries a faintly negative connotation—suggesting the charm is strategic rather than genuine.
Someone ingratiates themselves with powerful people to gain advantage.
Excessive insincere flattery
- sycophanticServilely flattering
- servileExcessively submissive, lacking independence
- subservientExcessively eager to obey
- grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another
deferential · unctuous · kowtowing · bootlicking · cringing · slavish · submissive · toadying
Covered in grease
- slickSmooth or craftily adept
- slimyWet, slippery, unpleasant
- unctuousExcessively and insincerely earnest
- insincereFeigning belief or feeling
phony · sleazy · smug · creepy · greasy · cloying · saccharine · disingenuous
Free or expressing praise
- smooth-talkingCharmingly persuasive in speech
- sweet-talkingPersuading through flattery
- silver-tonguedPersuasively articulate speaker
- glibSuperficially articulate
honey-tongued · praising · coaxing · persuasive · wheedling · cajoling · blandishing · soft-soaping
Warm and approachable
- amiableGood-natured and likable
- engagingPleasantly attractive, compelling attention
- winsomeSweetly charming
- likableInspiring easy fondness
personable · charismatic · magnetic · appealing · captivating · delightful · pleasant · genial
Obsequious flatterer seeking favor
- bootlickerServile flatterer of superiors
- brownnoserServile flatterer seeking favor
- flattererOne dispensing insincere praise
- yes-manUncritical agreeable subordinate
apple-polisher · lickspittle · crawler · suck-up · hanger-on · flunkey · lackey · minion
fawning
Excessive insincere flattery
- sycophanticServilely flattering
- servileExcessively submissive, lacking independence
- subservientExcessively eager to obey
groveling · deferential · unctuous · kowtowing · bootlicking · cringing · slavish · submissive · toadying · mealy-mouthed
oily
Covered in grease
- slickSmooth or craftily adept
- slimyWet, slippery, unpleasant
- unctuousExcessively and insincerely earnest
insincere · phony · sleazy · smug · creepy · greasy · cloying · saccharine · disingenuous · oleaginous
complimentary
Free or expressing praise
- smooth-talkingCharmingly persuasive in speech
- sweet-talkingPersuading through flattery
- silver-tonguedPersuasively articulate speaker
glib · honey-tongued · praising · coaxing · persuasive · wheedling · cajoling · blandishing · soft-soaping · sugary
affable
Warm and approachable
- amiableGood-natured and likable
- engagingPleasantly attractive, compelling attention
- winsomeSweetly charming
likable · personable · charismatic · magnetic · appealing · captivating · delightful · pleasant · genial · cordial
toady
Obsequious flatterer seeking favor
- bootlickerServile flatterer of superiors
- brownnoserServile flatterer seeking favor
- flattererOne dispensing insincere praise
yes-man · apple-polisher · lickspittle · crawler · suck-up · hanger-on · flunkey · lackey · minion · lapdog
- flatteryflatter, praise, flattery, compliment, compliments
- sycophancyfawning, toadying, groveling, kowtowing, brown-nosing
- sycophantssycophant, sycophants, toady, toadies, bootlicker
- schmoozingschmooze, schmoozing, hobnobbing, glad-handing, mingling
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- persuasionpersuade, persuasion, persuasive, convince, convincing
ingratiatinghaughty
Disdainfully proud
arrogant · disdainful · scornful · condescending · supercilious
ingratiatingalienating
Causing emotional separation
off-putting · repellent · repulsive · displeasing · abrasive
ingratiatinggenuine
Truly what it claims
sincere · authentic · unaffected · unpretentious · unflattering