Adjacent Words

Insinuate definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

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.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

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]

Merriam Webster's

verb (-ated; -ating) Etymology: Latin insinuatus, past participle of insinuare, from in- + sinuare to bend, curve, from sinus curve Date: 1529 transitive verb 1. 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 verb 1. archaic to enter gently, slowly, or imperceptibly ; creep 2. archaic to ingratiate oneself Synonyms: see introduce, suggest • insinuative adjective • insinuator noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

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)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(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 insinuates themselves 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]

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. 1. Introduce gently. 2. Ingratiate, push artfully. 3. Instil (artfully), infuse, inculcate. 4. Hint, suggest, intimate, hint or suggest remotely (something unfavorable or discreditable).

Moby Thesaurus

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