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

• insinuative adjective
• insinuatory adjective
• insinuatively adverb
• insinuator noun
• 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

Her tales defy easy categorization—suspense shockers? ghost stories? horror sketches?—even as they insinuate themselves into our souls.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In fact the White House defended it, insinuating the journalist deserved it for being “unprofessional.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“How dare you insinuate that my mother is dead.”

Read more on Literature

How dare he insinuate anything of that sort!

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But it’s hard to square with Vance having a wife whose family immigrated from a country that now deserves, he has insinuated, being placed on a restricted immigration list.

Read more on Salon