View synonyms for insinuate

insinuate

[ in-sin-yoo-eyt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

, in·sin·u·at·ed, in·sin·u·at·ing.

to suggest or hint slyly:
He insinuated that they were lying.
to instill or infuse subtly or artfully, as into the mind:
to insinuate doubts through propaganda.
Synonyms: inculcate, inject, introduce
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.

to make insinuations.

insinuate

/ ɪnˈsɪnjʊˌeɪt /

verb

may take a clause as object to suggest by indirect allusion, hints, innuendo, etc
tr to introduce subtly or deviously
tr to cause (someone, esp oneself) to be accepted by gradual approaches or manoeuvres

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Derived Forms

inˈsinuative, adjective
inˈsinuˌator, noun

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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

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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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of insinuate¹

C16: from Latin insinuāre to wind one's way into, from in- ² + sinus curve

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Synonym Study

See hint.

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Example Sentences

Gutierrez tries unsuccessfully to insinuate that Jay was cheating on Stephanie, suggesting ulterior motives.

From The Daily Beast

It's pretty sick for people to insinuate that I would wax my daughters eyebrows.

From The Daily Beast

Gandhi, he meant to insinuate, was not Indian enough to serve Indians and run the country.

From The Daily Beast

Tait seems to insinuate for all media that it would be better if Amis never came back.

From The Daily Beast

What people were trying to insinuate was that Jess is emblematic of all women, instead of seeing her as one woman.

From The Daily Beast

Both are very charming in Trolus, and he has turned them to good account to insinuate himself or to overcome a difficulty.

From Project Gutenberg

A vague, ridiculous, unfounded sort of jealousy of the Harpers had begun to insinuate itself.

From Project Gutenberg

"How dare you insinuate——" began Murray, and he violently shook the old man by the collar.

From Project Gutenberg

Do you insinuate that I am naturally an object for laughter?

From Project Gutenberg

Her object was to insinuate herself, so to speak, into fortune, by making herself useful to some great person.

From Project Gutenberg

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[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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in single file insinuating

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