innuendo
Americannoun
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innuendos,
plural
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innuendoes
plural
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an indirect intimation about a person or thing, especially of a disparaging or a derogatory nature.
- Synonyms:
- imputation, insinuation
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Law.
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a parenthetic explanation or specification in a pleading.
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(in an action for slander or libel) the explanation and elucidation of the words alleged to be defamatory.
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the word or expression thus explained.
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noun
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an indirect or subtle reference, esp one made maliciously or indicating criticism or disapproval; insinuation
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law (in pleading) a word introducing an explanatory phrase, usually in parenthesis
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law
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an explanation of the construction put upon words alleged to be defamatory where the defamatory meaning is not apparent
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the words thus explained
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Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of innuendo
First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin: “a hint,” literally, “by signaling,” ablative of innuendum, gerund of innuere “to signal,” equivalent to in- in- 2 + nuere “to nod”
Explanation
Speaking in innuendo is when you say something indirectly — often of a hurtful or sexual nature. Innuendo in Latin means "to point to" or "nod to." When you refer to something indirectly, you point at it without mentioning it, making an innuendo. If your friend who recently stopped speaking to you glares at you across a room as she says to someone else, "I would never lie to someone I called a friend," she's making an innuendo. Without accusing you directly, she's saying she thinks you lied.
Vocabulary lists containing innuendo
100 SAT Words Beginning with "I"
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The Joy Luck Club
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What If It's Us
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Joby’s court filing said Archer’s complaint was “long on innuendo, but short on factual allegations supporting cognizable legal theories.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026
Strategists figured it better to get out front of the chatter and address the online innuendo, even if it meant exposing the allegations to a much wider audience.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 10, 2026
Cipriani, a self-professed fixer, whistleblower and professional gambler who had been spreading innuendo about Shell on social media, according to court filings in a continuing legal dispute between the men.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026
Owens’ story is backed by innuendo, exaggerations, outright falsehoods, and, in several instances, messages delivered through Owens’ own dreams.
From Slate ● Feb. 27, 2026
So she’d let no insult or innuendo slide.
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
Madariaga had concluded Columbus was a Jew, said Morison, “by fashioning a significant pattern of hypothesis and innuendoes unsupported by anything so vulgar as fact.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026
He used innuendoes to refer to money, on one occasion messaging Gill: "I've received all promised Xmas gifts and requested five more postcards for your kind help next week during the debate."
From BBC ● Nov. 21, 2025
His dismissed the prosecution’s case as nothing more than “theories, hypotheses, innuendoes, assumptions, gut feelings, hairs on the back of your neck.”
From Seattle Times ● May 16, 2024
He is a physical wreck, though he puts on a surprisingly good and vigorous show as, without an audience, he staggers about a stage delivering songs, limericks, innuendoes and reminiscences.
From New York Times ● Nov. 14, 2012
It is delightful, in fact, to see the gusto with which they anticipate innuendoes, and meet improprieties half way, with all the well-bred composure of the most fashionable audience.
From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. 3, No. 15, August, 1851 by Various
For Innuendo Bingo - which Mills claimed Prince William was a fan of - the DJ would play out innuendos while Stark and a celebrity guest tried to keep their mouths full of water.
From BBC ● Mar. 30, 2026
An Alibaba Group spokesperson told AFP "the assertions and innuendos in the article are completely false".
From Barron's ● Nov. 25, 2025
The writing is punctuated by testy asides and innuendos about Villanueva foes, whom the report accuses of everything from extramarital affairs to ethical violations to new crimes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2024
Russell Westbrook no doubt heard the innuendos when he was a triple-double machine.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 7, 2023
Me: “‘I do not know which to prefer, / The beauty of inflections / Or the beauty of innuendos, / The blackbird whistling / Or just after.’”
From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
