insinuate

American  

[in-sin-yoo-eyt] / ɪnˈsɪn yuˌeɪt /

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.

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verb (used without object)

insinuated, insinuating

1. to make insinuations.

insinuate British  

/ 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

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Related Words

See hint.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of insinuate

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

Example Sentences

In response, Lamola said: "We reiterate that broad-based black economic empowerment is not reverse racism as regrettably insinuated by the ambassador."

From Barron's

The lawsuit accuses Jackson of “insinuating himself” into the Cascio family by using “obsessive attention, lavish gifts, access to his celebrity lifestyle, and declarations that he loved and needed each of them.”

From Los Angeles Times

She insinuates that if Evans doesn’t alter her teeth, she will be sent home.

From Salon

"Constantly assuming new faces, it has insinuated itself into the heart of our societies, into every crack, too often accompanied by that same pact of cowardice: to keep silent, to refuse to see."

From Barron's

At the time of Pratt’s announcement, a rep for Mayor Karen Bass issued a scathing response, insinuating that the bid was little more than a publicity stunt.

From Los Angeles Times