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
Regional observers are watching to see who the U.S. sends to the OAS general assembly meeting next month in Antigua and Barbuda for hints of the organization’s future. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 May 2025 Hulu gave a hint that’s promising for the series’ first tell-all episode. Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 20 May 2025
Verb
The data hints that dark energy is not constant but evolves. Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025 Additionally, Trump addressed the topic of sanctions, hinting that secondary sanctions on Iran could be implemented if necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for hint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hint
Noun
  • This week, keep an eye out on earnings from Home Depot, Target and TJX for an indication of how the American consumer has been holding up — and how those big retailers will deal with tariffs.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 19 May 2025
  • If April’s output is any indication, clearing 49,000 outstanding PSLF requests could take well over two and a half years.
    Shahar Ziv, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • But planted within that picture was a glimmer of hope — or maybe delusion — for Sabres fans.
    Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • This link between exercise and the gut was barely a glimmer in scientists’ eyes some 15 years ago, when exercise immunologist Marc Cook was a graduate student at the Urbana-Champaign campus.
    Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • Waiters and those who get tips Tips would not be taxed if the bill passes.
    George Petras, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • Trump’s legislation, at more than 1,100 pages, would permanently extend his 2017 tax cuts set to expire at the end of this year while introducing new policies like tax exemptions for tips and overtime wages.
    Nik Popli, Time, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • When the daily decided to take a walk back in time to celebrate 50 years of Women’s Fashion Industries on Aug. 15, 1950, a look at the Easter Parade and fashion trends of the day was included, noting that the parade had grown from a sprinkling of 400 people to over 4 million.
    Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Vessel’s proposal in Newtown also hit a sprinkling of public opposition, and planners voted 3-2 against the project.
    Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Currently, there is no data indicating the containment progress of the fire and its cause has not yet been determined.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2025
  • Discoveries indicate that coffee has significant antimicrobial properties that are effective against a range of bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens in agriculture.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 18 May 2025
Noun
  • This database, however, didn’t include any clues about who owns the data or where it may have been gathered from.
    Matt Burgess, Wired News, 22 May 2025
  • Attendees may be looking for clues as to whether the congressman, who turns 86 the next day, will decide to seek a 23rd full term in 2026.
    Josh Kurtz, Baltimore Sun, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • But even adjusting for opportunity (per 1,000 touches), the former Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder is more than holding his own, as the below graphic shows.
    Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • The rooms are minimalist—wooden floors, white walls, and simple design touches that reflect Japanese sensibilities.
    Yukari Sakamoto, AFAR Media, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • Here's why that's terrible advice: Strong disagreement with accepted wisdom creates controversy.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • Against Reddit’s advice, Fielder solicits a formal diagnosis, including an fMRI, to ensure there’s nothing so off about him that he can’t be trusted with others’ lives.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 26 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hint. Accessed 30 May. 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!