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in·sin·u·ate
 insinuate
- pronunciation:
- ihn
sIn
yu
eIt
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, intransitive verb
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
insinuated, insinuates, insinuating |
| definition 1: |
to suggest (something derogatory) subtly and indirectly.
She insinuated that he was a thief.- synonyms:
- imply, intimate
- similar words:
- asperse, hint, indicate, suggest
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| definition 2: |
to use subtle and indirect means to advance (oneself).
He insinuated himself into the king's favor.- synonyms:
- ingratiate
- similar words:
- wheedle, wind, worm
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| definition 3: |
to cause to be introduced by subtle and indirect means.
He insinuated fear among the ship's crew.- similar words:
- implant, infuse, inject, insert, instill, introduce
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| related words: |
connote, foist, imply, intimate, rumor |
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| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| definition: |
to make subtle and indirect suggestions, esp. of something derogatory.
- synonyms:
- hint
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| related words: |
allude |
| derivations: |
insinuative (adj.), insinuatively (adv.), insinuator (n.) |
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