intimated

[ in-tuh-mey-tid ]

adjective

1. made known indirectly; hinted or implied:

   It's the intimated aggression that's so offensive in the headline “Shareholders seize control of floundering corporation.”

   Whether because of my persuasive manner or the intimated suggestion that I regarded him as a progressive, he pounded the table in agreement.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of intimate ²( def ).

Other Words From

• qua·si-in·ti·mat·ed adjective
• un·in·ti·mat·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of intimated¹

intimate ²( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

Asked how much money he’s raised, Foster intimated that a ballpark figure would become evident as players started to trickle in through the transfer portal.

From Los Angeles Times

Close intimated that the only time being No. 1 matters is at the end of the season.

From Los Angeles Times

Cronin intimated that there could be even fewer notable nonconference games in future seasons if the Big Ten’s television partners get their wish to expand conference schedules from 20 to 22 games.

From Los Angeles Times

If it’s Trump, he “might give Israel an even freer hand in Gaza and elsewhere, and has intimated he could try to cut a Ukraine deal with Moscow over Kyiv’s head.”

From BBC

Adams has insisted the charges are “based on lies,” and intimated that he had been “targeted” for his criticism of the Biden administration over its “broken immigration policies.”

From Salon

Related Words

• implicit
• implied
• indirect
• unspoken