Court Reporter Practice Exam

What does 'ingratiate' mean?

1. To maintain distance

2. To gain favor

3. To induce fear

4. To express disagreement

The correct answer is: To gain favor

The term 'ingratiate' means to gain favor or approval from someone, typically through deliberate efforts to please or ingratiate oneself. This often involves flattery, charm, or other tactics aimed at winning someone over. The root of the word stems from the notion of making oneself agreeable or likable in order to foster goodwill, often in social or professional settings. In contrast, the other options reflect entirely different actions or intentions. Maintaining distance is about creating space, which runs counter to the idea of seeking closeness through ingratiation. Inducing fear involves coercion or intimidation, a concept that is opposed to the friendly overtures implied by ingratiation. Lastly, expressing disagreement entails confronting or opposing another's views or actions, which is also not aligned with the positive connotation of gaining favor. Hence, the essence of 'ingratiate' is rooted firmly in the pursuit of approval and acceptance from others.