ingratiation
Seeking favor strategically
Ingratiation is the act of deliberately winning favor, often through flattery, agreeableness, or excessive accommodation: His ingratiation with the boss was transparent to everyone else.
The word carries a whiff of calculation—genuine friendliness doesn't need the label.
Someone skilled at ingratiation knows which compliments to pay and when to laugh at unfunny jokes.
Excessive insincere flattery
- grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another
- obsequiousnessServile eagerness to please
- toadyingObsequious behavior seeking favor
- bootlickingServile flattery for advantage
kowtowing · servility · sycophant · toady · brownnoser · yes-man · lickspittle · flunkey
Words expressing approval
- adulationExtravagant, servile praise
- sweet-talkFlatter to persuade
- blarneyFlattering but hollow speech
- cajoleryFlattery meant to persuade
overpraise · blandishment · soft-soap · apple-polishing · smooth-talk · praise · wheedling · coaxing
Crafty and calculating
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
strategizing · machination · power-play · positioning · opportunism · self-serving · agenda · angling
Warm, friendly disposition
- amiabilityFriendly, agreeable temperament
- charismaMagnetic personal appeal
- warmthHeat you feel
- likabilityQuality of being pleasant
geniality · cordiality · pleasantness · sociability · congeniality · approachability · friendliness · graciousness
fawning
Excessive insincere flattery
- grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another
- obsequiousnessServile eagerness to please
- toadyingObsequious behavior seeking favor
bootlicking · kowtowing · servility · sycophant · toady · brownnoser · yes-man · lickspittle · flunkey · suck-up
compliment
Words expressing approval
- adulationExtravagant, servile praise
- sweet-talkFlatter to persuade
- blarneyFlattering but hollow speech
cajolery · overpraise · blandishment · soft-soap · apple-polishing · smooth-talk · praise · wheedling · coaxing · schmoozing
scheming
Crafty and calculating
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
artifice · strategizing · machination · power-play · positioning · opportunism · self-serving · agenda · angling · networking
affability
Warm, friendly disposition
- amiabilityFriendly, agreeable temperament
- charismaMagnetic personal appeal
- warmthHeat you feel
likability · geniality · cordiality · pleasantness · sociability · congeniality · approachability · friendliness · graciousness · agreeableness
- flatteryflatter, praise, flattery, compliment, compliments
- praiselauding, compliments, laudation, accolades, great job
- office politicsoffice politics, backstabbing, power plays, favoritism, nepotism
- schmoozingschmooze, schmoozing, hobnobbing, glad-handing, mingling
- persuasionpersuade, persuasion, persuasive, convince, convincing
- Impression managementself-presentation, first impression, body language, eye contact, dress code
ingratiationsincerity
Honest, unfeigned genuineness
authenticity · genuineness · candor · straightforwardness · guilelessness
ingratiationantagonism
Active opposition or hostility
hostility · provocation · alienation · confrontation · offense
ingratiationindependence
Freedom from external control
self-respect · dignity · assertiveness · aloofness · indifference