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
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
Yet the average analyst surveyed by LSEG has a buy rating and price target insinuating shares can add close 15% over the next year.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 28 Nov. 2025
This included repeating racist comments in 2019, insinuating a claim that Blacks are less intelligent than Whites due to genetics.
—Christina Zdanowicz, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
The follow-up tease showed someone holding a bunch of wires, insinuating that her costume likely has some animatronics involved.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Nov. 2025
In addition to winning Francesca to her cause, the episode also reveals that Fringilla Vigo is also acting as Yennefer’s mole, insinuating herself with Vilgefortz while passing information back to the sorceresses.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 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
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
Yet the average analyst surveyed by LSEG has a buy rating and price target insinuating shares can add close 15% over the next year.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 28 Nov. 2025
This included repeating racist comments in 2019, insinuating a claim that Blacks are less intelligent than Whites due to genetics.
—Christina Zdanowicz, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
The follow-up tease showed someone holding a bunch of wires, insinuating that her costume likely has some animatronics involved.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Nov. 2025
In addition to winning Francesca to her cause, the episode also reveals that Fringilla Vigo is also acting as Yennefer’s mole, insinuating herself with Vilgefortz while passing information back to the sorceresses.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insinuating
Adjective
-
Patrick is certainly slick and charming, but his story hardly passes muster.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Its charming white-stone facade is covered with windows, while red brick stacks throw color into the mix.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Airborne tear gas can drift, infiltrating residents’ apartments through vents, air conditioning units and windowsills.—
Graham Hurley,
CNN Money,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The second greatest threat for the year, according to Experian, are deepfake candidates infiltrating remote workforces.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the days leading up to the climb, prediction-market odds placed the probability of a successful ascent at roughly 90 to 95 percent, implying about a 5 to 10 percent chance of failure.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Amid a somewhat softening labor market, inflation pressures and an uncertain geopolitical landscape, futures market pricing is implying almost no chance of a rate cut, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch gauge.—
Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But as Scheierman prepared to inbound the ball in the frontcourt, Mazzulla pivoted, calling Williams to the bench and inserting Gonzalez.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The Titans, who were coming off single-digit losses to UC Davis and UC Riverside on the road last week, went with a different starting lineup, inserting Davis White in at guard in place of fellow freshman Bryce Cofield.—
Dan Arritt,
Oc Register,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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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That feature has since been covered over with concrete, so don’t get any funny ideas about sneaking into the palace after hours.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Of course, after a while the thrill of getting caught fades, and sneaking around becomes deeply sad rather than sexy.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The investment bank has a buy rating on Ralph Lauren with a $425 price target, indicating a potential 20% gain from Friday’s close.—
Davis Giangiulio,Christopher Hayes,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
-
One commercial building — without any signage indicating hospice services were located inside — received state licenses for 112 hospices.—
William La Jeunesse,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Content creator Olly Hume shared a skit of the DJ at the Brooklyn-Peltz wedding introducing Victoria to her dance with Brooklyn.—
Janelle Ash , Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The second-generation model arrived in 2022, followed by the third in 2023, with the fourth generation launching in 2024 – with each iteration introducing updates in styling, powertrain options, and safety features.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insinuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insinuating. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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