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
Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
The average analyst has a hold rating and price target insinuating shares can fall more than 32%, according to LSEG.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
After news of the explosive discovery of the explosives emerged, members of Orban’s government began insinuating that Ukraine was responsible for the plot.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
As Ross, Martin’s friend and confidante, Kevin Singer has the insinuating righteousness of a slinky cat, his line readings all mews and snarls.
—Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
The Tagovailoa era didn’t fail because coach Mike McDaniel wasn’t a leader of men, which Tagovailoa was seemingly insinuating to the Atlanta media.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
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
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
Almost a decade ago, a Palos Township trustee came under fire for Facebook comments insinuating that local schools were full of undocumented Middle Eastern students.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
The average analyst has a hold rating and price target insinuating shares can fall more than 32%, according to LSEG.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
After news of the explosive discovery of the explosives emerged, members of Orban’s government began insinuating that Ukraine was responsible for the plot.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
As Ross, Martin’s friend and confidante, Kevin Singer has the insinuating righteousness of a slinky cat, his line readings all mews and snarls.
—Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
The Tagovailoa era didn’t fail because coach Mike McDaniel wasn’t a leader of men, which Tagovailoa was seemingly insinuating to the Atlanta media.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insinuating
Adjective
-
Don’t pass up this fun way to get around this charming town.—
Karon Warren,
AJC.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Mars’ between-song banter, though charming, frequently sounded scripted down to the syllable.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But the opening sequence was a rip-roaring cold open in which Mando and Grogu are infiltrating a base to take down an empire loyalist.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Though fur is very good at creating a warm, protective layer against wind, water is very good at infiltrating small spaces.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The hospitalization estimates are equally absurd, implying that one in 18 additional Americans would have required hospitalization for COVID from December 2020–November 2022.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
But the majority of analysts have only a hold rating, with a price target implying shares will pull back about 7% over the next year, according to LSEG.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There are whale experts who can euthanize a humpback whale, for example, by inserting a needle the size of a human arm into its heart.—
Jessica Camille Aguirre,
New Yorker,
2 May 2026
-
That required segmenting the coil and inserting electronics within it to keep it from radiating its energy away like an antenna.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Jehosheba’s mother has her daughter recite an ingratiating thank-you speech to the Aunts.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
15 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Shannda Aviugana-Durand, an education assistant known for sneaking kids candy on their birthdays, was killed at close range while students watched, the lawsuit alleged.—
Robert Pearlman,
ArsTechnica,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The Suns still called this a positive first step — something to build on — but sneaking into the playoffs as an eighth seed does not always serve as a springboard.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) took particular exception to Vietnam being branded with a scarlet letter, indicating that an investigation could lead to higher footwear costs.—
Kate Nishimura,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
-
Many of the Huayuan fossils look similar, if not identical, to those in the Burgess Shale, indicating that these marine ecosystems were connected by global ocean currents.—
Marlowe Starling,
Quanta Magazine,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Silberman’s active lifestyle played into his parenting style, introducing his children to his own hobbies such as tennis, chess and water-skiing.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
2 May 2026
-
In response, Asia has been busy implementing a range of measures, from restricting energy use to introducing fuel subsidies, re-starting coal plants, and imposing export restrictions.—
Wendy Cutler,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insinuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insinuating. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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