as in to indicate
to convey an idea indirectly they may have implied that they'd help, but they didn't actually say so

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word imply distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of imply are hint, insinuate, intimate, and suggest. While all these words mean "to convey an idea indirectly," 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 it sensible to use hint instead of imply?

The words hint and imply are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hint implies the use of slight or remote suggestion with a minimum of overt statement.

hinted that she might get the job

When can insinuate be used instead of imply?

The synonyms insinuate and imply are sometimes interchangeable, but insinuate applies to the conveying of a usually unpleasant idea in a sly underhanded manner.

insinuated that there were shady dealings

When could intimate be used to replace imply?

Although the words intimate and imply have much in common, intimate stresses delicacy of suggestion without connoting any lack of candor.

intimates that there is more to the situation than meets the eye

Where would suggest be a reasonable alternative to imply?

While in some cases nearly identical to imply, 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 imply That implies upside of 24% from Friday's close. Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2025 As the name implies, a climate-resilient garden can handle droughts, deluges, and other weather extremes without lasting damage. Mike Irvine, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025 Located, as its name implies, on the banks of the Oconaluftee, River’s Edge has been recently renovated and has a selection of cozy, quiet rooms available. Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 4 Oct. 2025 The show of emotion notably implies that Ka-young is no longer a psychopath. Kayti Burt, Time, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for imply
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imply
Verb
  • Permits are invalid unless they are accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection from an accredited veterinarian indicating that the animal is free of disease.
    Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Swift’s 149-show, five-continent expedition encapsulated a tsunami of emotions not just among her fans, but her own journey through a very public breakup, a fling and, as indicated by her engagement to Kelce, knee-buckling love.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Salmon said his counselor suggested his attraction to men was his father’s fault because his job kept him away from home a lot, causing Salmon to identify more with his mother.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
  • That game, a 6-0 win over Peru, was later the subject of an extensive investigation published by the Sunday Times that suggested the game had been fixed.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • All three new objects sit in clusters weighing about 100 trillion Suns, hinting that black hole jets colliding with dense cosmic environments may be central to their formation.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Vladimir hints that the pair’s aww camaraderie may not survive another iteration of their Groundhog Day.
    Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 2 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Imply.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imply. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on imply

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