insinuate

UK: /ɪnˈsɪnjueɪt/ US: /ɪnˈsɪnjuˌeɪt/ ,(in sin′yo̅o̅ āt′)

Inflections of 'insinuate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

insinuates

v 3rd person singular

insinuating

v pres p

insinuated

v past

insinuated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•sin•u•ate /ɪnˈsɪnyuˌeɪt/   v., -at•ed, -at•ing. 

1. to suggest slyly (usually referring to something negative):
   [~ + that clause] He insinuated that they were lying without actually saying so.
2. to put or introduce (doubt, etc.), as into the mind:
   [~ + object] to insinuate doubt.
3. to bring or introduce (someone) into a position by indirect methods:
   [~ + object] He insinuated her into the top echelons.

in•sin•u•a•tive /ɪnˈsɪnyuˌeɪtɪv, -ətɪv/  adj. 
in•sin•u•a•tor, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•sin•u•ate  (in sin′yo̅o̅ āt′), v., -at•ed, -at•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to suggest or hint slyly:
   He insinuated that they were lying.
2. to instill or infuse subtly or artfully, as into the mind:
   to insinuate doubts through propaganda.
3. to bring or introduce into a position or relation by indirect or artful methods:
   to insinuate oneself into favor.

v.i. 

4. to make insinuations.

• Latin insinuātus, past participle of insinuāre to work in, instill. See in-², sinuous, -ate¹
• 1520–30;

in•sin•u•a•tive  (in sin′yo̅o̅ ā′tiv, -yo̅o̅ ə-), in•sin•u•a•to•ry  (in sin′yo̅o̅ ə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē), adj.  in•sin′u•a′tive•ly, adv. 
in•sin′u•a′tor, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See hint. 
• 2. introduce, inject, inculcate.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

insinuate / ɪnˈsɪnjʊˌeɪt/ verb

1. (may take a clause as object) to suggest by indirect allusion, hints, innuendo, etc
2. (transitive) to introduce subtly or deviously
3. (transitive) to cause (someone, esp oneself) to be accepted by gradual approaches or manoeuvres

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin insinuāre to wind one's way into, from in-² + sinus curve

inˈsinuative, inˈsinuatory adjective

inˈsinuˌator noun