insinuate

[in-sin-yoo-eyt]

verb (used with object)

insinuated, insinuating 

1. to suggest or hint slyly.

   He insinuated that they were lying.

2. to instill or infuse subtly or artfully, as into the mind.

   to insinuate doubts through propaganda.

   Synonyms: inculcate, inject, introduce

3. to bring or introduce into a position or relation by indirect or artful methods.

   to insinuate oneself into favor.

verb (used without object)

insinuated, insinuating 

1. to make insinuations.

insinuate

/ ɪnˈsɪnjʊˌeɪt /

verb

1. (may take a clause as object) to suggest by indirect allusion, hints, innuendo, etc

2. (tr) to introduce subtly or deviously

3. (tr) to cause (someone, esp oneself) to be accepted by gradual approaches or manoeuvres

Other Word Forms

• insinuator noun
• insinuative adjective
• insinuatory adjective
• insinuatively adverb
• half-insinuated adjective
• preinsinuate verb
• preinsinuative adjective
• uninsinuated adjective
• uninsinuative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of insinuate¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin insinuātus, past participle of insinuāre “to work in, instill.” See in- ², sinuous, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of insinuate¹

C16: from Latin insinuāre to wind one's way into, from _in- ² + sinus curve

Synonym Study

See hint.

Example Sentences

Harabedian, in an interview, defended the proposed fee change and insinuated that Bach was influenced by the president of her board, who is a public adjuster.

From Los Angeles Times

She just didn’t put up with B.S. from guys who were trying to diminish her, call her irrational and insinuate she was clingy.

From Los Angeles Times

But maybe that wouldn’t have happened, Hutson said, if local officials had been more cooperative and criminal elements weren’t allowed to insinuate themselves so deeply into their communities in the first place.

From Los Angeles Times

In remarks to the press after he toured “Alligator Alcatraz,” a new migrant detention center in Florida, the president weaponized Mamdani’s birth in Uganda by falsely insinuating he is not a naturalized American citizen.

From Salon

Team leaders referred to Gazans as "zombie hordes", the former contractor said, "insinuating that these people have no value."

From BBC