as in implying
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as in indicating
to convey an idea indirectly
kept hinting that she wouldn't mind an invitation to spend the weekend at their beach house
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Recent Examples of hinting
Joe Otterson, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
By hinting that his business was the victim of shape-shifting saboteurs, Westergaard distracted from the more prosaic story about the carelessness of his staff.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Jassy said the move was not necessarily financially driven, or AI-driven, but driven by culture, hinting that Amazon hired too many employees in recent years during the peak demand of the Covid-19 pandemic.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 31 Oct. 2025
Legendary spymaster Al Pacino finds brilliant tech-head Colin Farrell and recruits him into the CIA, hinting strongly that the young man’s late father was also working for the organization.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Senate Republicans, though, are hinting to colleagues that those could be in the mix as a stand-alone measure—but only if both sides can come to a deal that keeps the government open for a good while, perhaps long enough to take this sort of brinksmanship off the table until after the midterms.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Announcing two more shows — and, judging by their tone, hinting that this could be the end of the group.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
The actor recently spoke with the Midland Reporter-Telegram about season 4, hinting that the new episodes find Manny at a crossroads in the wake of Vince's tragic death.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025
At the end of September, Jason admitted on another episode of their podcast that the brothers' mom, Donna Kelce, has been subtly hinting for more grandkids while talking with Coach Deion Sanders.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
And strange things keep happening, hinting that maybe Georgia’s past isn’t willing to stay buried.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
By hinting that his business was the victim of shape-shifting saboteurs, Westergaard distracted from the more prosaic story about the carelessness of his staff.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Jassy said the move was not necessarily financially driven, or AI-driven, but driven by culture, hinting that Amazon hired too many employees in recent years during the peak demand of the Covid-19 pandemic.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 31 Oct. 2025
Legendary spymaster Al Pacino finds brilliant tech-head Colin Farrell and recruits him into the CIA, hinting strongly that the young man’s late father was also working for the organization.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Senate Republicans, though, are hinting to colleagues that those could be in the mix as a stand-alone measure—but only if both sides can come to a deal that keeps the government open for a good while, perhaps long enough to take this sort of brinksmanship off the table until after the midterms.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Announcing two more shows — and, judging by their tone, hinting that this could be the end of the group.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
The actor recently spoke with the Midland Reporter-Telegram about season 4, hinting that the new episodes find Manny at a crossroads in the wake of Vince's tragic death.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025
At the end of September, Jason admitted on another episode of their podcast that the brothers' mom, Donna Kelce, has been subtly hinting for more grandkids while talking with Coach Deion Sanders.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hinting
Adjective
-
And probably should go home this episode instead of the person the Project Runway editors are heavily implying to be the next contestant out.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Guidance appears prominently; copy avoids implying strategies or guarantees.—
Fortune Games,
Mercury News,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Olsavsky indicating that spending will likely increase again in 2026.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Health inspectors said mussels were missing a sticky note indicating when they should be discarded.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This period also saw Husain exploring female forms, including images of Hindu goddesses like Durga and Lakshmi, sometimes in suggestive or erotic poses.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Even more suggestive of charter value, Rick Ware and Legacy Motor Club have battled in court over the sale of a charter for $45 million.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Schulman told Bloomberg the increase in comparable sales was the result of some consumers adding sides or ordering more premium proteins like steak, suggesting wealthier consumers are propping up Cava as others pull back.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
-
While previous research has begun to highlight the association between dietary patterns and cognitive health, the authors point out that previous findings suggesting a link with dairy have been inconsistent.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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
Adjective
-
These motifs take on a symbolic value, according to Sejko, and suggest the loneliness and isolation of power.—
Will Tizard,
Variety,
2 Nov. 2025
-
That Xi did not meet Trump until this late in his term is also symbolic.—
Kerry Brown,
Time,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The resulting image depicts a loose choreography—several children hold their ringed arms in front of them, fingertips touching—but the over-all impression is one of gleeful, expressive chaos.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
-
It was thought that the simple last scene of Tom readying Ethan’s bedroom and giving the always subtly expressive Ruffalo a moment of quiet introspection would do the trick.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hinting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hinting. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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