intimation

noun

in·​ti·​ma·​tion ˌin-tə-ˈmā-shən How to pronounce intimation (audio)
plural intimations
: an indirect, usually subtle suggestion, indication, or hint
intimations that she may retire from teaching next year
It can be any time from the earliest intimation of fall, when wetland maples turn a searing red, to the third week of October, when gaudy leaves carpet the forest floor.Madeline Drexler
They bored me stiff but George had expertise and gave occasional intimations of power in reserve.Tobias Wolff

Examples of intimation in a Sentence

the newscaster could not resist giving a slight intimation that the voting was going contrary to predictions
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There are intimations of down-home prosperity, like horn blasts in the fog. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 21 May 2025 Worse, intimations of foreign involvement might trigger a nuclear war, Johnson warned. Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 19 May 2025 And the longer these series go on, the more overwhelming such intimations of superstar mortality tend to become. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 May 2025 In legalese mixed with intimations of personal pain, Bar lists Netanyahu’s attempts to turn the Shin Bet into a secret police protecting the prime minister personally rather than the nation. Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for intimation

Word History

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of intimation was in 1531

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Cite this Entry

“Intimation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intimation. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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