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insinuating

 - 5 dictionary results

in⋅sin⋅u⋅at⋅ing

  [in-sin-yoo-ey-ting]
Use insinuating in a Sentence
–adjective
1. tending to instill doubts, distrust, etc.; suggestive: an insinuating letter.
2. gaining favor or winning confidence by artful means: an insinuating manner.
Origin:
1585–95; insinuate + -ing 2

Related forms:
in⋅sin⋅u⋅at⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

in⋅sin⋅u⋅ate

  [in-sin-yoo-eyt] verb, -at⋅ed, -at⋅ing.
–verb (used with 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.
–verb (used without object)
4. to make insinuations.
Origin:
1520–30; < L insinuātus, ptp. of insinuāre to work in, instill. See in- 2 , sinuous, -ate 1

Related forms:
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

Synonyms:
1. See hint. 2. introduce, inject, inculcate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To insinuating
in·sin·u·ate   (ĭn-sĭn'yōō-āt')   
v.   in·sin·u·at·ed, in·sin·u·at·ing, in·sin·u·ates

v.   tr.

  1. To introduce or otherwise convey (a thought, for example) gradually and insidiously. See Synonyms at suggest.

  2. To introduce or insert (oneself) by subtle and artful means.

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.
in·sin·u·at·ing   (ĭn-sĭn'yōō-ā'tĭng)   
adj.  

  1. Provoking gradual doubt or suspicion; suggestive: insinuating remarks.

  2. Artfully contrived to gain favor or confidence; ingratiating.

in·sin'u·at'ing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

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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