insinuate

[ in-sin-yoo-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, in·sin·u·at·ed, in·sin·u·at·ing.

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)

, in·sin·u·at·ed, in·sin·u·at·ing.

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

Derived Forms

• inˈsinuˌator, noun
• inˈsinuative, adjective

Other Words From

• in·sin·u·a·tive [in-, sin, -yoo-ey-tiv, -yoo-, uh, -], in·sin·u·a·to·ry [in-, sin, -yoo-, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective
• in·sinu·ative·ly adverb
• in·sinu·ator noun
• half-in·sinu·ated adjective
• prein·sinu·ate verb preinsinuated preinsinuating
• prein·sinu·ative adjective
• unin·sinu·ated adjective
• unin·sinu·ative 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

A wholly unexpected focus on those modest and hidden internal body parts in his neck insinuates Jerome’s interior anguish, an emotional experience that cannot be seen inside his head.

From Los Angeles Times

Nickels insinuated that the scientists behind such research “have blood on their hands or culpability in some level.”

From Los Angeles Times

While also insinuating that Haitians were spreading diseases like TB and HIV, Vance also claimed that a Haitian murdered a Springfield boy who was accidentally killed in a school bus accident.

From Salon

They ping-pong between insinuating Thurman was a bad person for not wanting to have twins and suggesting she was too dumb to understand what abortion even is.

From Salon

Giuliani, the former president's lawyer at the time, repeatedly insinuated that election workers in the county, which is home to Atlanta, tampered with the vote count to hand the election to President Joe Biden.

From Salon