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 Those moments of naturalism work better than many of the shots taking place outside of the car, which often use glaringly heavy-handed lighting to insinuate who we’re supposed to see as good and evil. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 21 Mar. 2025 By Liam Reilly | CNN The same day Vivian Jenna Wilson, Elon Musk’s estranged daughter, published her second-ever interview with a media outlet, the billionaire media mogul used his X platform to insinuate trans people are behind reports of attacks on Teslas. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2025 Although prosecutors have named no other suspects and plan to take Read back to trial on April 1, Read and her defense have insinuated that O'Keefe was killed by fellow cops who set up a sprawling conspiracy to frame her for the crime. Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 19 Mar. 2025 Weldon has stirred controversy repeatedly by insinuating a link between the MMR shot and autism, citing Wakefield’s debunked theories. Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for insinuate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insinuate
Verb
  • Amid the chaos of the Pittsburgh emergency room where bodily fluids ruin budding med students' scrubs and doctors cut off their ankle monitors, Jesse Van Horn, a silver fox nurse with a nose ring has been infiltrating our screens — and the internet has taken notice.
    Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Bad actors are infiltrating companies to steal data, plant malware, or steal funds.
    Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The business leaders’ statement implies that the region might be in danger of losing one or both teams, but neither has threatened to leave the Kansas City area.
    Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Gentry implied that the growth sprang largely from American unexpectedly adding flights, which the airport is contractually obliged to accommodate, The Ledger reported.
    Ted Reed, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • No ancient dire wolf genes themselves were directly inserted into the genome, however.
    Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2025
  • But inserting yourself, even with unspoken opinions, is going to lead to hard feelings.
    R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • But a better travel pillow does all that and sneaks an extra day’s worth of clothing onto the plane without catching a gate agent’s attention.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2025
  • How did Passover and Easter sneak up on us so fast?
    Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 6 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
  • Which indicates that her tough-guy act is a front to conceal her own vulnerability.
    Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • To that end, the show creators introduced Catherine O’Hara as Joel’s therapist Gail in the first episode of Season 2.
    Eliana Dockterman, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Narrated by Brendan Fraser, the stunning feature film introduces Leo, a handsome sea lion pup who’s learning how to navigate life alongside his mother, Luna.
    Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • All the while, Xavier skulks along the margins of the play, worming his way closer to the actress by insinuating himself into the production.
    Joumana Khatib, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
  • At the same time, Waltz tried to flip the script and blame Goldberg -- suggesting the editor could have somehow wormed his way in to the group chat.
    Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Meantime, hopes for a China- U.S. trade deal resurfaced after the American president suggested on Thursday that duties on Chinese imports may have peaked.
    Yue Wang, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • On Tuesday, reports from China suggested that the country was mulling a ban or a reduction on the number of Hollywood films.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Insinuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insinuate. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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