insinuate
- to suggest or hint slyly: He insinuated that they were lying.
- to instill or infuse subtly or artfully, as into the mind: to insinuate doubts through propaganda.
- to bring or introduce into a position or relation by indirect or artful methods: to insinuate oneself into favor.
- to make insinuations.
Origin of insinuate
Synonyms for insinuate
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for insinuate
signify, connote, propose, intimate, ascribe, purport, allude, imply, impute, mention, indicate, refer, insert, interpose, foist, ingratiate, introduce, infiltrate, interject, infuseExamples from the Web for insinuate
Contemporary Examples of insinuate
Gutierrez tries unsuccessfully to insinuate that Jay was cheating on Stephanie, suggesting ulterior motives.
The Scoop on ‘Serial’: Making Sense of The Nisha Call, Asia's Letters, and Our ObsessionEmily Shire
December 11, 2014
It's pretty sick for people to insinuate that I would wax my daughters eyebrows.
Cara Delevingne Tops 2013 Google Searches; PETA Distributes Fur CoatsThe Fashion Beast Team
December 18, 2013
Gandhi, he meant to insinuate, was not Indian enough to serve Indians and run the country.
Tait seems to insinuate for all media that it would be better if Amis never came back.
What people were trying to insinuate was that Jess is emblematic of all women, instead of seeing her as one woman.
Historical Examples of insinuate
The reason is all mine, I do not insinuate that it is in any way yours.'
Little DorritCharles Dickens
You must not think, as you seem to insinuate, that in my way of life I want exercise.
The Letters of Robert BurnsRobert Burns
Do you mean to insinuate, you villain, that my wife stole her own diamonds?
Jennie Baxter, JournalistRobert Barr
I hope you don't mean to insinuate that I have but one friend!
The Elm Tree TalesF. Irene Burge Smith
Oh, there was no misunderstanding what he meant to insinuate.
Once to Every ManLarry Evans
insinuate
- (may take a clause as object) to suggest by indirect allusion, hints, innuendo, etc
- (tr) to introduce subtly or deviously
- (tr) to cause (someone, esp oneself) to be accepted by gradual approaches or manoeuvres
Word Origin for insinuate
Word Origin and History for insinuate
1520s, from Latin insinuatus, past participle of insinuare "to throw in, push in, make a way; creep in, intrude, bring in by windings and curvings, wind one's way into," from in- "in" (see in- (2)) + sinuare "to wind, bend, curve," from sinus "a curve, winding." Sense of "to introduce tortuously or indirectly" is from 1640s. Related: Insinuated; insinuating; insinuatingly.