insinuating

[ in-sin-yoo-ey-ting ]
See synonyms for insinuating on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. tending to instill doubts, distrust, etc.; suggestive: an insinuating letter.

  2. gaining favor or winning confidence by artful means: an insinuating manner.

Origin of insinuating

1
First recorded in 1585–95; insinuat(e) + -ing2

Other words from insinuating

  • in·sin·u·at·ing·ly, adverb
  • half-in·sin·u·at·ing, adjective
  • half-in·sin·u·at·ing·ly, adverb
  • pre·in·sin·u·at·ing·ly, adverb
  • un·in·sin·u·at·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use insinuating in a sentence

  • The baby two seats ahead leaned over toward her insinuatingly, and made her think of the baby and the clothes-pins.

  • She did insinuatingly ask Wilbur what his favourite flower was, but this got her nowhere, because it proved that he did not know.

    The Wrong Twin | Harry Leon Wilson
  • "Perhaps, Monsieur had better lie down again now and sleep awhile," said Picard insinuatingly.

    The Forest of Swords | Joseph A. Altsheler
  • "But if you are going to Belden—" Specs began insinuatingly.

  • It will make a scandal, said the money-lender insinuatingly.

    The Best Policy | Elliott Flower