insinuating

adjective

in·​sin·​u·​at·​ing in-ˈsin-yə-ˌwā-tiŋ How to pronounce insinuating (audio)
-yü-ˌā-
1
: winning favor and confidence by imperceptible degrees : ingratiating
2
: tending gradually to cause doubt, distrust, or change of outlook often in a slyly subtle manner
insinuating remarks
insinuatingly adverb

Examples of insinuating in a Sentence

the fortune hunter's insinuating attentions were having their intended effect on the naive heiress
Recent Examples on the Web In the process, the day-to-day nightmare of Dana’s new reality gets lost, even if the more insinuating discomfort of her present-day reality has been enhanced. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Dec. 2022 The complaint says that since at least early 2021, McKillips had been posting messages insinuating or explicitly threatening to harm the government or federal agents. Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 2 Nov. 2022 But Johnson’s pieces were intimate and insinuating, not imposing, rarely much larger than a comic book and easily overlooked. Vince Aletti, The New Yorker, 22 July 2022 The only sparks in the evening came from countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo (Dionysus/Dracula), who commanded attention at every appearance with his insinuating, chromatic vocal line and some spectacular costumes by Chrisi Karvonides-Dushenko. Heidi Waleson, WSJ, 10 Aug. 2021 The Harptones had Willie Winfield, a tenor vocalist with immaculate pitch and an insinuating way with a phrase, and Raoul Cita, a gifted vocal arranger who made sure the group's voicings were always distinctive. Richard Sandomir, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'insinuating.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of insinuating was in 1591

Dictionary Entries Near insinuating

Cite this Entry

“Insinuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insinuating. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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