insinuate

insinuate
in|sin|u|ate [ınˈsınjueıt] v [T]
[Date: 1500-1600; : Latin; Origin: , past participle of insinuare, from sinuare 'to bend, curve']
1.) to say something which seems to mean something unpleasant without saying it openly, especially suggesting that someone is being dishonest
= ↑imply insinuate that
Are you insinuating that the money was stolen?
What are you trying to insinuate?
2.) formal to gradually gain someone's love, trust etc by pretending to be friendly and sincere
He managed to insinuate his way into her affections.
insinuate yourself into sth
He insinuated himself into Mehmet's confidence.
3.) formal to move yourself or a part of body into a place
a large cat insinuated itself through the gap

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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Synonyms:
/ , / (artfully), , / , , , (something unfavorable or discreditable)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Insinuate — In*sin u*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Insinuated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Insinuating}.] [L. insinuatus, p. p. of insinuareto insinuate; pref. in in + sinus the bosom. See {Sinuous}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To introduce gently or slowly, as by a winding or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Insinuate — In*sin u*ate, v. i. 1. To creep, wind, or flow in; to enter gently, slowly, or imperceptibly, as into crevices. [1913 Webster] 2. To ingratiate one s self; to obtain access or favor by flattery or cunning. [1913 Webster] He would insinuate with… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • insinuate — [in sin′yo͞o āt΄] vt. insinuated, insinuating [< L insinuatus, pp. of insinuare, to introduce by windings and turnings, insinuate < in , in + sinus, curved surface] 1. to introduce or work into gradually, indirectly, and artfully [to… …   English World dictionary

  • insinuate — [v1] hint, suggest allude, ascribe, connote, imply, impute, indicate, intimate, mention, propose, purport, refer, signify; concepts 49,75 Ant. conceal, hide, withhold insinuate [v2] force one’s way into curry favor*, edge in, fill in, foist, get… …   New thesaurus

  • insinuate — ► VERB 1) suggest or hint (something bad) in an indirect and unpleasant way. 2) (insinuate oneself into) manoeuvre oneself gradually into (a favourable position). DERIVATIVES insinuating adjective insinuator noun. ORIGIN originally in the sense… …   English terms dictionary

  • insinuate — index allude, connote, hint, imply, impose (intrude), incriminate, indicate, infer …   Law dictionary

  • insinuate — (v.) 1520s, from L. insinuatus, pp. of insinuare to throw in, push in, make a way; creep in, intrude, bring in by windings and curvings, wind one s way into, from in in (see IN (Cf. in ) (2)) + sinuare to wind, bend, curve, from sinus a curve,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • insinuate — 1 introduce, insert, interject, interpolate, intercalate, interpose Analogous words: infuse, inoculate, imbue, leaven: instill, inculcate, *implant 2 intimate, hint, *suggest, imply Analogous words: allude, advert, *refer: impute, *ascribe …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • insinuate — v. 1) (d; refl.) ( to ingratiate ) to insinuate into (to insinuate oneself into smb. s good graces) 2) (L; to) ( to suggest ) she insinuated (to us) that her partner had embezzled funds * * * [ɪn sɪnjʊeɪt] (L; to) ( to suggest ) she insinuate (to …   Combinatory dictionary

  • insinuate — UK [ɪnˈsɪnjueɪt] / US [ɪnˈsɪnjuˌeɪt] verb [transitive] Word forms insinuate : present tense I/you/we/they insinuate he/she/it insinuates present participle insinuating past tense insinuated past participle insinuated to say something unpleasant… …   English dictionary

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