hint 1 of 2

1
2
as in glimmer
an almost imperceptible sign of something there was the slightest hint of scorn in her voice

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4

hint

2 of 2

verb

as in to indicate
to convey an idea indirectly kept hinting that she wouldn't mind an invitation to spend the weekend at their beach house

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hint distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of hint are imply, insinuate, intimate, and suggest. While all these words mean "to convey an idea indirectly," hint implies the use of slight or remote suggestion with a minimum of overt statement.

hinted that she might get the job

How are the words imply and suggest related as synonyms of hint?

Imply is close to suggest but may indicate a more definite or logical relation of the unexpressed idea to the expressed.

measures implying that bankruptcy was imminent

When is insinuate a more appropriate choice than hint?

The meanings of insinuate and hint largely overlap; however, insinuate applies to the conveying of a usually unpleasant idea in a sly underhanded manner.

insinuated that there were shady dealings

When might intimate be a better fit than hint?

The words intimate and hint can be used in similar contexts, but intimate stresses delicacy of suggestion without connoting any lack of candor.

intimates that there is more to the situation than meets the eye

In what contexts can suggest take the place of hint?

While in some cases nearly identical to hint, suggest may stress putting into the mind by association of ideas, awakening of a desire, or initiating a train of thought.

a film title that suggests its subject matter

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of hint
Noun
His Instagram is full of little hints of their lives together, establishing that, yes, this is a wife guy for the ages. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025 The results regarding faithfulness were eye-opening: across all hint types on average, Claude referenced the hints in its CoT only 25 percent of the time, while DeepSeek R1 did so 39 percent of the time. ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
Again, hinting that the physical movement is the important aspect of rhythmic priming. New Atlas, 9 Apr. 2025 Ryan Blaney hinted that 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace was responsible for spinning out Kyle Larson during the NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington. John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hint
Noun
  • The information released by the state to the public gives no indication what might happen if an inmate survives the initial shots.
    CBS News, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Currently, there is no solid indication that Newcastle’s resolve will be tested.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The coach listens not just for answers, but for glimmers—early signals of ideas that could be shaped into something bigger.
    Rhea Wessel, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • However, the glimmers of optimism surrounding the tariffs did not last.
    Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • My search for these cases began with a tip about Mary’s death.
    Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
  • While the league’s postseason tips off in full this weekend, the Hornets will only be spectators.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • From cozy shearling to leopard print, Scandi labels, and a sprinkling of The Row, Lawrence sees herself through the seasons and elements in a various but curated selection of outerwear.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The book describes how Amanda gets through a tough day of soaring temperatures with the help of hose sprinkling and lemonade drinking.
    Chloe Veltman, NPR, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • As of last May, filings with the state of Texas indicated that 78% of CFP Administration LLC’s ownership was held in equal 15.6% shares by the Big Ten, ACC, SEC, Big 12 and Pac-12.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 11 Apr. 2025
  • The affidavit indicates that officials believe the name is an alias.
    Kerry Breen, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In turn, scientists tried to understand what clues gave the fishermen unique insight.
    Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 14 Apr. 2025
  • And unlike misspellings or other mistakes, large swaths of coherent text don’t give the reader clues that the transcriptions could be inaccurate, potentially leading users to use them in high-stakes scenarios without ever finding their failures.
    Asmelash Teka Hadgu, Scientific American, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The plush microfiber material is gentle on the skin, and the oversized bows add a cute touch to the whole experience.
    Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Katy Perry's Blue Origin mission slammed as out of touch In the lead-up to the flight, Perry, King and Sánchez all expressed nerves and an eagerness to bring a female finesse to space.
    Jay Stahl, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice.
    Rhiannon Frater, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Check out our guide to the Best Hair Dryers for more advice.
    Nena Farrell, Wired News, 20 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hint. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on hint

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!