as in charming
likely or intended to win one's affection
the fortune hunter's insinuating attentions were having their intended effect on the naive heiress
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in infiltrating
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way
years were needed for the agent to insinuate himself into the terrorist organization
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in implying
to convey an idea indirectly
are you insinuating that I won by cheating?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in inserting
to put among or between others
quietly insinuated herself among the concertgoers raptly listening to the piano solo
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of insinuating
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
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2026
The letter challenged the validity of Madrid's candidacy, insinuating that Madrid was a resident of Laveen, not Apache County.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Kafer continues the bias against wolves by insinuating that the state has reintroduced lynx, elk, moose, turkeys, grouse, ferrets, and now wolverines based on science, but not wolves.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2026
As an exhaustive New York Times Magazine investigation recently explained, Epstein built his fortune mainly by insinuating himself as a wealth manager for a few superrich old men and drawing hefty fees.
—Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
Not to protect steelworkers or correct trade imbalances—and no one is insinuating that fentanyl is flowing in from Nuuk.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Bright, young census surveyors show up and ask insinuating questions, issue casual threats behind gleaming smiles.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2026
But in October 2024, Vladimir Kramnik, a former Russian World Chess Champion who Naroditsky grew up idolizing, began publicly insinuating that Naroditsky might be using computer assistance during online games.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 18 Dec. 2025
The Steelers mustered just 166 yards of total offense, and things looked even more bleak after the game when quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw an unnamed wide receiver under the bus by insinuating someone had been skipping out on the team’s film studying.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 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
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
Verb
The script, penned by Bartek Bartosik and Naqqash Khalid, becomes bizarrely moralistic by the end, insinuating that the debased and debauched might perhaps see their problems solved by becoming domesticated.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2026
The letter challenged the validity of Madrid's candidacy, insinuating that Madrid was a resident of Laveen, not Apache County.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Kafer continues the bias against wolves by insinuating that the state has reintroduced lynx, elk, moose, turkeys, grouse, ferrets, and now wolverines based on science, but not wolves.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2026
As an exhaustive New York Times Magazine investigation recently explained, Epstein built his fortune mainly by insinuating himself as a wealth manager for a few superrich old men and drawing hefty fees.
—Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
Not to protect steelworkers or correct trade imbalances—and no one is insinuating that fentanyl is flowing in from Nuuk.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Bright, young census surveyors show up and ask insinuating questions, issue casual threats behind gleaming smiles.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2026
But in October 2024, Vladimir Kramnik, a former Russian World Chess Champion who Naroditsky grew up idolizing, began publicly insinuating that Naroditsky might be using computer assistance during online games.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 18 Dec. 2025
The Steelers mustered just 166 yards of total offense, and things looked even more bleak after the game when quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw an unnamed wide receiver under the bus by insinuating someone had been skipping out on the team’s film studying.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insinuating
Adjective
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Built around a natural mineral spring, tourists have been flocking to this charming retreat for years.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
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His charming Indiana State team – led by the bespectacled and beloved cult hero Robbie Avila, better known as Cream Abdul-Jabbar – won 28 games in the regular-season, and the Missouri Valley crown.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The levels of airborne chemicals detected in the gym’s basement suggest toxic vapors are infiltrating the building.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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The development comes after long-standing fears about Chinese agents infiltrating London’s political circle.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The firm estimates that US airlines alone could face around $24 billion in additional fuel costs, implying fares might need to rise by roughly 11% to fully offset the increase.—
Scott Campbell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
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Futures market pricing is implying almost no chance of a rate cut, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch gauge.—
Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The software includes editing tools for inserting text, annotating, merging, splitting, compressing, and watermarking PDFs.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
11 Mar. 2026
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Health experts frequently warn that inserting Q-tips or cotton swabs into your ear canal can push wax deeper, cause injury, and interfere with your ear’s natural self-cleaning process.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Sweeney stars as Penny Jo, a South Dakota diner waitress with an appealing smile, an ingratiating stammer, a scarf in her hair, and deep reserves of ruthless ambition.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Aug. 2025
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Still, on a moment-to-moment basis, the film has tension, strong character dynamics and sharp individual portraits whose astringency gets alleviated by Gottsagen and James’ more ingratiating turns.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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These businesses offer a way to entertain kids while sneaking in a little education.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
13 Mar. 2026
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But beyond sneaking small bombs past Israel’s air defenses, Iran’s use of cluster munitions may also be intended to try to reduce Israel’s stock of missile interceptors, potentially forcing it to fire dozens of them to eliminate the threat of a single missile.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The complaint pointed to previous reporting from Fortune, which cited a Goldman Sachs projection from August 2025 indicating consumers had absorbed 22% of total tariffs costs, but were projected to bear 67% of those costs by October 2025 as more costs were passed down.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
13 Mar. 2026
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The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory detected the lava glowing inside the Halemaumau crater at the volcano's summit caldera through webcam images, indicating Kilauea had begun erupting.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Opened in 2023 next to the University of Maryland campus, Little Blue Menu is a 100-seat restaurant that serves as a permanent test kitchen for introducing new menu items and experimenting with twists on tried-and-true favorites.—
Katie Riley,
Southern Living,
14 Mar. 2026
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And three months before introducing the new decree, Argentina’s right-wing president Javier Milei, an ally of prime minister Giorgia Meloni, was granted citizenship by descent on a state visit to Italy.—
Julia Buckley,
CNN Money,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insinuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insinuating. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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