intimation
noun
in·ti·ma·tion
ˌin-tə-ˈmā-shən 
plural intimations
: an indirect, usually subtle suggestion, indication, or hint
intimations that she may retire from teaching next year
It can be any time from the earliest intimation of fall, when wetland maples turn a searing red, to the third week of October, when gaudy leaves carpet the forest floor.—
Madeline Drexler
Madeline DrexlerThey bored me stiff but George had expertise and gave occasional intimations of power in reserve.—Tobias Wolff
Tobias WolffExamples of intimation in a Sentence
the newscaster could not resist giving a slight intimation that the voting was going contrary to predictions
Recent Examples on the Web
Sure, there’s the intimation of a world gone to pieces, whether from a quantum apocalypse or an ecological catastrophe; there’s the presentation of a modern self, stripped of its qualities and evacuated of purpose.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The intimation of topography is confirmed by the label: Ngayartu Kujarra is the Punmu name for a seasonal salt lake also known as Lake Dora.
—Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026
Hints of coffee and confectioner’s chocolate hit the palate alongside baking spice and maybe even an intimation of caraway in its rather rapid finish.
—Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 19 Jan. 2026
The official announcement did not mention any such official plans, but there are intimations that some type of bundling could be part of the strategy in the future.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intimation
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Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The intimation of topography is confirmed by the label: Ngayartu Kujarra is the Punmu name for a seasonal salt lake also known as Lake Dora.
—Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026
Hints of coffee and confectioner’s chocolate hit the palate alongside baking spice and maybe even an intimation of caraway in its rather rapid finish.
—Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 19 Jan. 2026
The official announcement did not mention any such official plans, but there are intimations that some type of bundling could be part of the strategy in the future.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intimation
Cite this Entry
“Intimation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intimation. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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