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
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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insinuating
Adjective
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Portside Wood Potting Station Get your green thumb to work with this charming wood potting station that keeps all your planting essentials tidy and in reach.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Mar. 2026
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After the Mexican military killed an infamous drug lord, a charming town in Jalisco state was engulfed in 24 hours of terror.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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Security footage showed that Alexander Friedmann had been infiltrating the building for months.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The bank initiated the cybersecurity stock at an overweight rating and $200 price target, implying an upside of 33%.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
3 Mar. 2026
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Reynolds must remove images implying these specific bags were suitable for curbside pickup or municipal recycling bins, the AG's Office said.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cosme did four months of physical therapy that were unsuccessful before surgeons performed a periacetabular osteotomy on her right hip, breaking her pelvis in four places and inserting four screws.—
Krystle Rich,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
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After their creation, ORPs are installed in the riverbed by inserting the metal pin into the bottom of the reef.—
Amaia Gavica,
Miami Herald,
6 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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Peters was convicted of state crimes for sneaking in an outside computer expert to copy images of her county's election computer system before and after state officials updated it in 2021.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
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Peters was convicted of state crimes for sneaking in an outside computer expert to copy images of her county’s election computer system before and after state officials updated it in 2021.—
Colleen Slevin,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Trouvelot cuts into this degraded crater, indicating that the neighboring basin formed first.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
6 Mar. 2026
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Within 24 hours of the first US-Israeli strikes on Iran, ships in the region’s waters found their navigation systems had gone haywire, erroneously indicating that the vessels were at airports, a nuclear power plant and on Iranian land.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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To complement the sweet heat flavors of the new sandwich, the beloved chicken chain is also introducing a full line of four Strawberry Hibiscus flavored beverages.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
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The Latest Flavors The team at Reese’s has been busy introducing new variations of its classic candy in recent months.—
Joseph Erbentraut,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insinuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insinuating. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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