insinuation
an indirect or covert suggestion or hint, especially of a derogatory nature: She made nasty insinuations about her rivals.
covert or artful suggestion or hinting, as of something implied: His methods of insinuation are most ingenious.
subtle or artful instillment into the mind.
the art or power of stealing into the affections and pleasing; ingratiation: He made his way by flattery and insinuation.
Archaic. a slow winding, worming, or stealing in.
Obsolete. an ingratiating act or speech.
Origin of insinuation
1Other words from insinuation
- pre·in·sin·u·a·tion, noun
Words Nearby insinuation
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use insinuation in a sentence
But the insinuation that it contains an inherent nefarious motive is simply a means of dismissing the content.
Technically true, but highly misleading in its insinuation that American jobs are being moved overseas.
Is the 2012 Election Finally Breaking Barack Obama’s Way? | Howard Kurtz | November 3, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTBut now the insinuation is racial: Clinton made those lazy blacks work, and Obama wants to go back to giving them “free stuff.”
Michael Tomasky on Mitt Romney’s Crazy Bill Clinton Gambit | Michael Tomasky | August 9, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTIts insinuation into the economy of Iran had been widely observed for years.
Power, and inherited influence, and exalted social position have a deadly insinuation.
Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
Reputations for courage and audacity have thus been hourly established by the careful insinuation of hideous expletives.
A Cursory History of Swearing | Julian SharmanI saw in one journal an insinuation that the incidents in the preliminary narrative were possibly without foundation.
She was thinking of his insinuation at Marshall Dean's expense.
Warrior Gap | Charles KingHe bridled up at the word "illiterate," and repudiated the vile insinuation.
My New Curate | P.A. Sheehan
British Dictionary definitions for insinuation
/ (ɪnˌsɪnjʊˈeɪʃən) /
an indirect or devious hint or suggestion
the act or practice of insinuating
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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