Synonyms
insinuate - 6 dictionary results
in⋅sin⋅u⋅ate
[in-sin-yoo-eyt]
verb, -at⋅ed, -at⋅ing.
–verb (used with object)
–verb (used without object)
| 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. |
| 3. | to bring or introduce into a position or relation by indirect or artful methods: to insinuate oneself into favor. |
| 4. | to make insinuations. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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| in·sin·u·ate
(ĭn-sĭn'yōō-āt') Pronunciation Key
v. in·sin·u·at·ed, in·sin·u·at·ing, in·sin·u·ates v. tr.
v. intr. To make insinuations. [Latin īnsinuāre, īnsinuāt- : in-, in; see in-2 + sinuāre, to curve (from sinus, curve).] in·sin'u·a'tive adj., in·sin'u·a'tor n., in·sin'u·a·tor'y (-yōō-ə-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē) adj. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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insinuate
1526 (implied in insinuation), from L. insinuatus, pp. of insinuare "bring in by windings and curvings, wind one's way into," from in- "in" + sinuare "to wind, bend, curve," from sinus "a curve, winding." Sense of "to introduce tortuously or indirectly" is from 1647.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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| insinuate | |
verb | |
| 1. | introduce or insert (oneself) in a subtle manner; "He insinuated himself into the conversation of the people at the nearby table" |
| 2. | give to understand; "I insinuated that I did not like his wife" [syn: intimate] |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Insinuate
In*sin"u*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Insinuated; p. pr. & vb. n. Insinuating.] [L. insinuatus, p. p. of insinuareto insinuate; pref. in- in + sinus the bosom. See Sinuous.]1. To introduce gently or slowly, as by a winding or narrow passage, or a gentle, persistent movement. The water easily insinuates itself into, and placidly distends, the vessels of vegetables. --Woodward. 2. To introduce artfully; to infuse gently; to instill. All the art of rhetoric, besides order and clearness, are for nothing else but to insinuate wrong ideas, move the passions, and thereby mislead the judgment. --Locke. Horace laughs to shame all follies and insinuates virtue, rather by familiar examples than by the severity of precepts. --Dryden. 3. To hint; to suggest by remote allusion; -- often used derogatorily; as, did you mean to insinuate anything? 4. To push or work (one's self), as into favor; to introduce by slow, gentle, or artful means; to ingratiate; -- used reflexively. He insinuated himself into the very good grace of the Duke of Buckingham. --Clarendon. Syn: To instill; hint; suggest; intimate.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Insinuate
In*sin"u*ate\, v. i. 1. To creep, wind, or flow in; to enter gently, slowly, or imperceptibly, as into crevices. 2. To ingratiate one's self; to obtain access or favor by flattery or cunning. He would insinuate with thee but to make thee sigh. --Shak. To insinuate, flatter, bow, and bend my limbs. --Shak.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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