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

"I absolutely would not have gone through life having this on my chest if I knew that – and to insinuate that I did is disgusting," Platner said in a statement to the BBC.

Read more on BBC

The best thing about “Lines of Resolution” is how powerfully it drives home that television has insinuated itself into every aspect of contemporary life.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Some major news outlets initially wrote off the emerging epidemic as a “gay plague,” insinuating that other Americans didn’t need to worry about it.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Turns out that Kimmel wrongly insinuated the suspect was conservative, though all of us will likely have to wait until the trial to gain a full understanding of the evidence.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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.

Read more on Los Angeles Times