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

Explanation

Insinuate means you imply or suggest something that may or may not be true. If you say things seemed to go wrong about the time your brother took over, you insinuate that he had something to do with the decline. There's another way to insinuate. Suppose you're in line to get into a popular dance club when a celebrity appears, surrounded by a big entourage. If you strike up a conversation with one of the entourage, you may be able to insinuate that you're part of the group and go in with them. Don't feel bad — people have been doing it at least since the 1520s, when insinuate evolved from the Latin word insinuare, meaning "wind one's way into."

Example Sentences

Insinuate and intone up to the very edge of sense-making, and then at the last moment cut away before any real definitive conclusion or lack of conclusion can be inferred.

From The New Yorker • Aug. 13, 2018

Insinuate, in-sin′ū-āt, v.t. to introduce gently or artfully: to hint, esp. a fault: to work into favour.—v.i. to creep or flow in: to enter gently: to obtain access by flattery or stealth.—adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

Then, again, of Salisbury— "Insinuate myself to become privy to my Lord of Salisbury's estate."

From Bacon by Morley, John

Insinuate an atom or corpuscle of hydrogen or carbon at the wrong point in the ranks, and the trick is a failure.

From The Breath of Life by Burroughs, John