insinuate
[verb]
Synonyms:
- imply, allude, hint, indicate, intimate, suggest
- ingratiate, curry favour, get in with, worm or work one's way in

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Contrasted words: affirm, assert, aver, avouch, avow, declare, profess, air, broach, express, state, voice
Related Words: ascribe, impute, insert, intercalate, interject, interpolate, interpose, introduce

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

in‧sin‧u‧ate /ɪnˈsɪnjueɪt/ verb [transitive]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: 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 Synonym : 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 something
He insinuated himself into Mehmet’s confidence.

3. formal to move yourself or a part of your body into a place:
a large cat insinuated itself through the gap

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲