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
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The neighborhood/area Just a couple blocks off the eastern end of Montauk’s main drag, Marram is walking distance from charming local eateries (like Joni’s, for breakfast), surfboard rentals over at Sunset Surf Shack, and fresh brews at Montauk Brewing Company.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
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There’s Lewis Pullman, continuing to work his own dad’s charming everyman appeal.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Expect launch photos, snaps of historic hardware destined for space, images of the night sky and, from time to time, photographic evidence of our entertainment editor Ian Stokes infiltrating Amazon's London office to sneak a peek at their May the 4th Star Wars offering … allegedly.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
-
In The Second Lady, when America’s beloved First Lady is abducted and replaced by a Russian double, both women must fight to survive—one navigating captivity in Siberia, the other infiltrating the White House to sabotage NATO during the G7 Summit.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The investment bank has a buy rating on MBX, and in a report out Monday left a $60 price target on the stock, implying nearly 50% upside from Friday’s close.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
-
So is this just a case of bad art design, or is Duarte seriously implying that Alvarado-Gil should be shot?—
Robin Epley,
Sacbee.com,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Spectrum is inserting a brief message between two runs of the same commercial.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 May 2026
-
The Marvel mastermind cemented his place in entertainment history, not just by bringing the superhero stories to life across different media, but by inserting himself in that history.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
7 May 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
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After being expelled from Brown University for sneaking a coed into his room, Turner came to Atlanta to work as an account executive for his domineering father’s billboard company, Turner Advertising.—
David Bauder,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
-
In the video, the woman is seen lifting the bottle of cognac, which retails for $4,000, and sneaking it into a purse.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
The report says investigators found five casings outside the room, indicating this is one place the assailant stopped and reloaded.—
The Denver Post Editorial Board,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
-
Now, in his fourth week checking the hawk’s nest on OC Parks’ land managed by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, Gough noticed the color change, indicating the chicks are molting their feathers, doing well, and growing.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
For farm-fresh eggs with a little debris on the shell, a dry cloth is all that is needed—introducing water can push bacteria inward through the porous shell rather than clearing it away.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
9 May 2026
-
The incorporation of UAVs into regular military operations marked a paradigm shift in the conduct of warfare, introducing new tactical possibilities, strategic dilemmas, and ethical debates that continue to evolve.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insinuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insinuating. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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