- present participle of insinuate.
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
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.
Despite her efforts, Vicki's daughter struggled to gain weight and she felt like medical staff were insinuating she was "not doing enough" and "starving" her baby.
From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026
Since the Epstein files release, Pozhidaeva has been contending with social-media posts and blogs insinuating she is a Russian spy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 15, 2026
He responded with, “There goes the house,” insinuating that he’s going to lose it.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 16, 2025
Not to be outdone, Johnson responded to the poop jet video by somehow insinuating there is an elevated meaning to it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 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.
