Synonym Chooser

How is the word insinuate distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of insinuate are hint, imply, intimate, and suggest. While all these words mean "to convey an idea indirectly," insinuate applies to the conveying of a usually unpleasant idea in a sly underhanded manner.

insinuated that there were shady dealings

When is hint a more appropriate choice than insinuate?

The meanings of hint and insinuate largely overlap; however, 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 insinuate?

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 could intimate be used to replace insinuate?

While in some cases nearly identical to insinuate, intimate stresses delicacy of suggestion without connoting any lack of candor.

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

When can suggest be used instead of insinuate?

The words suggest and insinuate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 insinuate That would insinuate the Rams' quarterback missing time due to his back injury during the season. Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025 And as Berend insinuates himself ever deeper into his life, Andor identifies him as a mortal enemy, not knowing that there is much — much — more to this story than first meets his eye. Damon Wise, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025 Musk’s post insinuated that Apple had rigged the system against ChatGPT competitors such as the Grok chatbot made by his own xAI. Michael Liedtke, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2025 And who better than a famous actor to insinuate that divergence will age, like a fine wine, into assurance? Sloane Crosley, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for insinuate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insinuate
Verb
  • Season 5 dives into the contrast between old and new New York, with secret billionaires, mobsters and mysterious residents infiltrating the building.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The top country hits have infiltrated pop culture and are played everywhere.
    Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That implies an attractive 40% upside from current levels.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Leerink's price target of $77 implies shares could surge 119% from Monday's close.
    Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Fatemian takes a single vegetable at a time, starting with the carrots, and works his way around the edges, inserting the veggies into the arugula so they’re partially supported by the greens.
    Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The full-on answers are below for each group, finally inserting the four words in each category.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Aloe vera sneaks in lightweight hydration, and wheat protein helps strengthen to keep breakage at bay.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Read about a man who has snuck into prestigious events for nearly a decade.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Containment indicates what percentage of the fire perimeter has been surrounded by a control line.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Similarly, some studies indicate heat can boost flexibility and range of motion during stretching.
    Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Russia's federal air transport agency, Rosaviatsiya, also introduced temporary flight restrictions at the airport in the early hours of Tuesday.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Getty Images In the 1983 movie WarGames, which starred Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy, much of the American public was introduced to the various levels of Defcon.
    Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But Donaggio prefers to worm his way into your brain — and into the deepest pit of fears in your stomach.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Last month, hackers wormed their way into Tea and accessed sensitive user data; 70,000 user images and more than 1 million private messages reportedly were leaked, including communications about abortions, users’ driver’s-license photos, and phone numbers that had been shared in private messages.
    Albert Fox Cahn, The Atlantic, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Mock suggests using gentle cleaning tools to avoid scratching the flooring.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025
  • TikTok commenters suggest sealing the finished piece with UV resin to prevent cracks over time, especially if the mirror will be exposed to sunlight.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Insinuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insinuate. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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