Synonym Chooser

How is the word insinuate distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of insinuate are hint, imply, intimate, and suggest. While all these words mean "to convey an idea indirectly," insinuate applies to the conveying of a usually unpleasant idea in a sly underhanded manner.

insinuated that there were shady dealings

When is hint a more appropriate choice than insinuate?

The meanings of hint and insinuate largely overlap; however, 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 insinuate?

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 could intimate be used to replace insinuate?

While in some cases nearly identical to insinuate, intimate stresses delicacy of suggestion without connoting any lack of candor.

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

When can suggest be used instead of insinuate?

The words suggest and insinuate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 insinuate Earlier this month, longtime PGA Tour veteran Fred Couples insinuated that Koepka wants to return to the PGA after his contract expires in what would be a groundbreaking move. Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025 But her tone becomes more insinuating, even accusatory, both with Alice and with Maddie and Frank on the phone. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025 In the second Trump Administration, a class of Silicon Valley leaders was insinuating itself into politics in a way that recalled one of Mimura’s primary subjects of study: the élite bureaucrats who seized political power and drove Japan into the Second World War. Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2025 However, one of them can’t be that Dorit insinuated that Sutton had a drinking problem the year before. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for insinuate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insinuate
Verb
  • But when the Israeli secret service recruits Uri for a dangerous mission in Germany, he is forced to return home and infiltrate a cell of SS veterans with the aim of locating the Nazi war criminal, Mengele.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2025
  • With time running out and no viable diplomatic solutions, authorities send in Snake to infiltrate the island and rescue the President in exchange for his own freedom.
    Travis Bean, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • This implies a very strong Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.3% (vs. 19.0% for S&P 500).
    Trefis Team, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The administration decision implies that any steps paroled migrants take to adjust their immigration status after publication of the notice on Tuesday would not be deemed as protection against deportation.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Digging around a root ball roughly 45 feet in diameter began on June 1, followed by an operation to insert large inflatable airbags underneath.
    Jack Bantock, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The Royals inserted infield prospect Tyler Tolbert in Witt’s place.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Among the messages from Kori found by police were texts that called the girl beautiful, asked her to sneak out and come visit him.
    John Lynch, arkansasonline.com, 18 Mar. 2025
  • North Carolina snuck into the men’s draw as the final team chosen, a notable decision given that a) UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham is chair of the selection committee, and b) Cunningham earned a $68,000 bonus for the Tar Heels’ selection.
    Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Adventure quickly turned deadly as smoke rising from a crater lake indicated that something was very wrong.
    Michelle Lee, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Antibodies directed against the stalks of H1N1 viruses can cross-react with H5N1, likely indicating some protection against severe disease.
    Will Stone, NPR, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Instead, the Trump administration is attempting to introduce new considerations into the finding such as the cost of regulations.
    Axios, Axios, 15 Mar. 2025
  • If the opening set introduced any doubts, though, the rest of the show refuted them.
    Abby Webster, Billboard, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The plot might seem repetitive, going back and forth between Violet trying to follow the anonymous rules and worming her way out of them to seek help (only to be outsmarted), but the movie’s exciting, stage-like formal flourishes and its disorienting lensing keep things moving smoothly.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Chain Reactions Director: Alexandre O. Philippe Featuring: Patton Oswalt, Takashi Miike, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Stephen King, Karyn Kusama United States, 2024 For fifty years, Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has terrified audiences by worming its way into their subconscious.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Von Massow suggests a number of explanations for that.
    Scott Horsley, NPR, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Research suggests blackout curtains can similarly block out disruptive artificial and natural light.
    Angela Haupt, TIME, 18 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Insinuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insinuate. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

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