insinuating

1 of 2

adjective

in·​sin·​u·​at·​ing in-ˈsin-yə-ˌwā-tiŋ 

-yü-ˌā-

1

: winning favor and confidence by imperceptible degrees : ingratiating entry 1

2

: tending gradually to cause doubt, distrust, or change of outlook often in a slyly subtle manner

insinuating remarks

insinuatingly adverb

insinuating

2 of 2

present participle of insinuate

Synonyms of insinuating

Adjective

• charming
• ingratiating
• affecting
• adorable
• winning

Examples of insinuating in a Sentence

Adjective

the fortune hunter's insinuating attentions were having their intended effect on the naive heiress

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Rather than viewing the insinuating and undeniably creepy Gacy as an inherent threat, Macmanus finds the tragedy in the disparate and desperate circumstances amid which Gacy might have represented an illusion of hope. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2025

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

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1