insinuating
Americanadjective
-
tending to instill doubts, distrust, etc.; suggestive.
an insinuating letter.
-
gaining favor or winning confidence by artful means.
an insinuating manner.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of insinuating
First recorded in 1585–95; insinuat(e) + -ing 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He responded with, “There goes the house,” insinuating that he’s going to lose it.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 16, 2025
I have lived, Jhabvala said, like “a cuckoo forever insinuating myself into others’ nests.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025
The articles highlighted by Brown criticise her hair, face, body and style, with some insinuating she looks much older than she is.
From BBC • Mar. 4, 2025
Kim also said his client’s father planted tomatoes over the site where Lockhart was buried, insinuating he attempted to conceal the grave.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2025
Something furry pushed itself against her side in one smooth, insinuating motion, Coraline jumped, then breathed a, sigh of relief when she saw what it was.
From "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
