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
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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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The best space here is undoubtedly the breakfast room and the tiered terrace that runs off it and into the garden—such a charming treat in the middle of a capital city.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Mar. 2026
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Dumas wrote his titular character as a man of mystique and a naturally charming presence capable of holding court with a wealth of tales from exotic locales.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
19 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
-
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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Futures market pricing is implying almost no chance of a rate cut, according to the CME Group's FedWatch gauge.—
Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The Tab key now just shows a symbol implying that function, rather than the word.—
Joe Osborne,
PC Magazine,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Why was Acton even inserting herself into conversations about the Cleveland Browns?—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, Michael Ouweleen and Erik Richter’s Birdgirl repeats the original’s setup of inserting preexisting characters in a corporate setting.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 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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Where dancing on sticky living room floors, sneaking beers from your parents' refrigerator and bumping music on stereos were hallmarks of adolescence.—
Jane Onyanga-Omara,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Teenage boys sneaking to look at pornography is almost a rite of passage.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The release also said FBI agents found evidence at a Denton cemetery indicating a coffin had been removed from a mausoleum.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
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Watermelon Pictures opens historical epic Palestine ’36 by Annemarie Jacir at the Angelika in NYC with early numbers/tracking indicating a solid $30,000 weekend.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In Virginia’s legislature, patrons are responsible for introducing legislation and guiding it through the entire legislative process, including defending it on the floor if necessary.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Mar. 2026
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Following a meticulous four-year renovation, creative directors Kirstin Bailey and Paul Haslhofer have carefully preserved the building’s historic bones while introducing a more contemporary aesthetic.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insinuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insinuating. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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