Insinuate INSIN'UATE, v.t. [L. insinuo; in and sinus, the bosom, a bay,
inlet or recess.] 1. To introduce gently, or into a narrow passage;
to wind in. Water insinuates itself into the crevices of rocks.
2. To push or work one's self into favor; to introduce by slow, gentle or
artful means. He insinuated himself into the very good grace of the
duke of Buckingham. 3. To hint; to suggest by remote allusion.
And all the fictions bards pursue, Do but insinuate what's true.
4. To instill; to infuse gently; to introduce artfully. All the
art of rhetoric, besides order and clearness, are for nothing else
but to insinuate wrong ideas, move the passions and thereby mislead the
judgment. INSIN'UATE, v.i. To creep in; to wind in; to flow in;
to enter gently, slowly or imperceptibly, as into crevices. 1. To
gain on the affections by gentle or artful means, or by imperceptible
degrees; as insinuating flattery. 2. To wind along.
insinuate
v 1: introduce or insert (oneself) in a subtle manner; "He
insinuated himself into the conversation of the people at
the nearby table"
2: give to understand; "I insinuated that I did not like his
wife" [syn: intimate, adumbrate, insinuate]
insinuate verb (-ated; -ating)
Etymology: Latin insinuatus, past participle of
insinuare, from in- + sinuare to bend, curve, from
sinus curve Date: 1529 transitive verb1.a. to introduce (as an idea) gradually or in a subtle,
indirect, or covert way <insinuate doubts into a trusting
mind> b. to impart or suggest in an artful or indirect way
;imply <I resent what you're insinuating>
2. to introduce (as oneself) by stealthy, smooth, or artful means
intransitive verb1.archaic to enter gently, slowly, or imperceptibly ;creep2.archaic to ingratiate oneself
Synonyms:seeintroduce, suggest • insinuativeadjective • insinuatornoun
insinuate v.tr. 1 (often foll. by that + clause) convey indirectly or obliquely; hint (insinuated that she was lying). 2 (often refl.; usu. foll. by into) a introduce (oneself, a person, etc.)
into favour, office, etc., by subtle manipulation. b introduce (a thing, oneself, etc.) subtly or deviously into a place (insinuated himself into the Royal Box). Derivatives: insinuation
n. insinuative adj. insinuator n. insinuatory adj. Etymology: L insinuare insinuat- (as IN-(2), sinuare to curve)
insinuate
(insinuates, insinuating, insinuated)
1. If you say that someone insinuates that something bad is the case, you mean that
they say it in an indirect way.
The libel claim followed an article which insinuated that the President was lying...= imply
VERB: V that [disapproval]
• insinuation (insinuations)He speaks with rage of insinuations that there's a 'gay mafia' in Hollywood...N-VAR
2. If you say that someone insinuatesthemselves into a particular situation,
you mean that they manage very cleverly, and perhaps dishonestly, to get into that situation.
He gradually insinuated himself into her life.= worm
VERB: V pron-refl into n, also V n prep [disapproval]
insinuate
ɪnˈsɪnjueɪt v.tr. 1 (often foll. by that + clause) convey
indirectly or obliquely; hint (insinuated that she was lying). 2 (often refl.;
usu. foll. by into) a introduce (oneself, a person, etc.) into favour, office,
etc., by subtle manipulation. b introduce (a thing, oneself, etc.) subtly or
deviously into a place (insinuated himself into the Royal Box). øøinsinuation
n. insinuative adj. insinuator n. insinuatory adj. [L insinuare insinuat-
(as IN-(2), sinuare to curve)]
Insinuate \In*sin"u*ate\, v. i.
1. To creep, wind, or flow in; to enter gently, slowly, or
imperceptibly, as into crevices.
2. To ingratiate one's self; to obtain access or favor by
flattery or cunning.
He would insinuate with thee but to make thee sigh.
--Shak.
To insinuate, flatter, bow, and bend my limbs.
--Shak.
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.]
1. To introduce gently or slowly, as by a winding or narrow
passage, or a gentle, persistent movement.
The water easily insinuates itself into, and
placidly distends, the vessels of vegetables.
--Woodward.
2. To introduce artfully; to infuse gently; to instill.
All the art of rhetoric, besides order and
clearness, are for nothing else but to insinuate
wrong ideas, move the passions, and thereby mislead
the judgment. --Locke.
Horace laughs to shame all follies and insinuates
virtue, rather by familiar examples than by the
severity of precepts. --Dryden.
3. To hint; to suggest by remote allusion; -- often used
derogatorily; as, did you mean to insinuate anything?
4. To push or work (one's self), as into favor; to introduce
by slow, gentle, or artful means; to ingratiate; -- used
reflexively.
He insinuated himself into the very good grace of
the Duke of Buckingham. --Clarendon.
Syn: To instill; hint; suggest; intimate.
insinuate
ɪnˈsɪnjueɪt v.
1 impute, suggest, hint, intimate, imply, whisper, indicate; convey, signify: They
insinuated that she married me for my money.
2 insert (oneself), inject (oneself), worm or work or inveigle or manoeuvre (oneself or
one's way); infiltrate, intrude: She insinuated herself into our group uninvited.
3 inject, infuse, instil, introduce: Wild imaginings began to insinuate themselves into
my mind.
155 Moby Thesaurus words for "insinuate":
accuse, adumbrate, allege, allegorize, allude to, arraign, article,
ascribe, assume, barge in, book, break in, break in upon,
bring accusation, bring charges, bring to book, bring to mind,
burst in, butt in, charge, charge in, cite, come between, complain,
connote, convey, crash, crash in, crash the gates, creep in,
crowd in, cut in, denounce, denunciate, drag in, drop a hint,
ease in, edge in, elbow in, encroach, entail, entrench, fasten on,
fasten upon, fill in, finger, foist, foist in, fudge in,
give a hint, give the cue, glance at, hang something on, hint,
hint at, horn in, impeach, impinge, implant in, implicate, imply,
import, impose, impose on, impose upon, impute, indicate, indict,
infer, infiltrate, inform against, inform on, infringe, infuse,
inject, inject in, inoculate, insert, insert in, insinuate in,
intercalate, interfere, interjaculate, interject, interlope,
interpolate, interpose, intervene, intimate, introduce,
introduce in, intromit, intrude, invade, involve, irrupt,
lay charges, lodge a complaint, lodge a plaint, lug in, mean,
mean to say, obtrude, perfuse, pin on, point indirectly to, pop in,
prefer charges, press charges, press in, presume, presuppose,
prompt, push in, put between, put in, put on, put on report,
put upon, report, reproach, run in, rush in, sandwich, set in,
signify, slink in, slip in, smash in, smuggle in, sneak in,
squeeze in, steal in, stick in, storm in, suggest, suppose,
take for granted, take to task, task, taunt with, tax, throng in,
throw in, thrust in, trench, trespass, tuck in, twit, wedge in,
whip in, whisper, work in, worm, worm in
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