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
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
Cardi responded in kind, speculating whether or not Minaj was abusing substances, and insinuating that Minaj’s substance use has affected her children’s health.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
As Kelce added to a couple weeks ago by imitating Mahomes as payback for Mahomes insinuating Kelce couldn’t find Brazil on the map.
—Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
Some right-wing influencers and MAGA-friendly news outlets seized on the killer’s gender identity, insinuating that the shooting had something to do with them being trans.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
But within that slightly eccentric look, Dano gives a wily and insinuating performance.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 31 Aug. 2025
Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have been on the defensive after promising full transparency and insinuating new bombshell developments in the case.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 10 July 2025
Bolsonaro never formally conceded his narrow electoral defeat to Lula in October 2022, insinuating that instead the election had been stolen.
—Anthony Pereira, The Conversation, 21 Feb. 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 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
Cardi responded in kind, speculating whether or not Minaj was abusing substances, and insinuating that Minaj’s substance use has affected her children’s health.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
As Kelce added to a couple weeks ago by imitating Mahomes as payback for Mahomes insinuating Kelce couldn’t find Brazil on the map.
—Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
Some right-wing influencers and MAGA-friendly news outlets seized on the killer’s gender identity, insinuating that the shooting had something to do with them being trans.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
But within that slightly eccentric look, Dano gives a wily and insinuating performance.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 31 Aug. 2025
Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have been on the defensive after promising full transparency and insinuating new bombshell developments in the case.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 10 July 2025
Bolsonaro never formally conceded his narrow electoral defeat to Lula in October 2022, insinuating that instead the election had been stolen.
—Anthony Pereira, The Conversation, 21 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insinuating
Adjective
-
Gather acorns on your next nature walk to craft these charming napkin rings.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The upscale property is housed in a 1950s Portuguese colonial-style building painted the most charming shade of pink.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Tea is approached by PET and tasked with infiltrating the criminal empire of Miran, a ruthless criminal posing as a businessman.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Billitier did have a hell of a story to tell about his decades of undercover work for the FBI, including several years infiltrating a Colombian drug ring in Texas.—
Steve Belanger,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There were some very good hypotheses implying that diet and cigarette smoking might be linked, but it had never really been shown systematically or consistently.—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
-
According to Bloomberg, the 12-month consensus price target on the new DuPont is about $44, implying that there’s still some more valuation upside to go.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The discovery helped open the door to more recent developments such as tinkering with the genetic makeup of living things, treating disease by inserting genes into patients, identifying human remains and criminal suspects from DNA samples, and tracing family trees and ancient human ancestors.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
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To prevent the card from becoming soggy, fold a piece of clear tape across the bottom of the card before inserting into the fruit.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Nov. 2025
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
-
Loomer started sneaking into her fund-raisers.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The shoe’s hook-and-loop closure is another standout feature that keeps feet securely in place and prevents cold air from sneaking in.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The interdisciplinary approach brought the duke’s life and death to a stunning clarity — indicating how analyses can shed new light on age-old mysteries, even murders.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Three had New England winning by one score while three had Tampa Bay winning by one score, indicating that contest may be one of the most exciting of Week 10.—
Jacob Camenker,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The ten-episode, single-camera comedy promises to balance heart, humor, and nostalgia while introducing a new generation of Hillman’s best and brightest.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
11 Nov. 2025
-
An international team of researchers has raised the efficiency of perovskite solar cells to nearly 27 percent after introducing a new interfacial coating between the top contact and the perovskite layer.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Insinuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insinuating. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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