as in implying
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as in indicating
to convey an idea indirectly
kept hinting that she wouldn't mind an invitation to spend the weekend at their beach house
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Recent Examples of hinting
Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 5 Feb. 2026
While dry weather will be the norm this week and into the weekend, the weather service’s Climate Prediction Center is hinting about a pattern change by the middle of the month.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 3 Feb. 2026
In an interview with Deadline, Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and HBO Max Content, addressed the quartet’s performance and the status of additional seasons already ordered for The Pitt, AKOTSK and Heated Rivalry while hinting that a Season 5 of Industry may not be far behind.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 30 Jan. 2026
The central bank also pointed to a strong economy — hinting that rate cuts later this year may not be a sure thing.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
The defense on Monday also presented evidence that Quatisha was unconscious after suffering a head injury, hinting that the girl wasn’t awake when alligators bit parts of her body.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026
The moon’s trine to Uranus in Taurus shakes up your career and public image zone, hinting that small changes to your routine could lead to big professional shifts.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 18 Jan. 2026
The former One Direction member and actor, arguably the biggest male name in pop music today, seems to be hinting that his fourth solo album is coming out soon.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 13 Jan. 2026
Today’s release may be a throwback, but Rodrigo spent much of last year hinting that 2026 would herald her next phase.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
Now, Audi is hinting that a new RS5 might be in the making, but in plug-in hybrid form and in the greatest segment of them all, as a station wagon.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 5 Feb. 2026
While dry weather will be the norm this week and into the weekend, the weather service’s Climate Prediction Center is hinting about a pattern change by the middle of the month.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 3 Feb. 2026
In an interview with Deadline, Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and HBO Max Content, addressed the quartet’s performance and the status of additional seasons already ordered for The Pitt, AKOTSK and Heated Rivalry while hinting that a Season 5 of Industry may not be far behind.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 30 Jan. 2026
The central bank also pointed to a strong economy — hinting that rate cuts later this year may not be a sure thing.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
The defense on Monday also presented evidence that Quatisha was unconscious after suffering a head injury, hinting that the girl wasn’t awake when alligators bit parts of her body.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026
The moon’s trine to Uranus in Taurus shakes up your career and public image zone, hinting that small changes to your routine could lead to big professional shifts.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 18 Jan. 2026
The former One Direction member and actor, arguably the biggest male name in pop music today, seems to be hinting that his fourth solo album is coming out soon.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 13 Jan. 2026
Today’s release may be a throwback, but Rodrigo spent much of last year hinting that 2026 would herald her next phase.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hinting
Adjective
-
And probably should go home this episode instead of the person the Project Runway editors are heavily implying to be the next contestant out.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Guidance appears prominently; copy avoids implying strategies or guarantees.—
Fortune Games,
Mercury News,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The motion sought to dismiss the charges with prejudice, indicating they cannot be refiled.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
-
On May 14, 2025, CBP investigators received information from a law enforcement database indicating that Garcia-Vallejo was Wilkinson’s niece, the complaint states.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Patients accused Heaps of groping them, performing unnecessarily invasive examinations and making suggestive comments.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The report noted some mottling and nodules in the liver and a spleen with one hypoechoic mass and multiple similar nodules suggestive of hemangiosarcoma.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The new revelations include documents suggesting Mandelson shared sensitive government information with Epstein after the 2008 global financial crisis.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Musk has regularly expressed his ambitions in space travel, previously suggesting colonizing Mars.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Rather than viewing the insinuating and undeniably creepy Gacy as an inherent threat, Macmanus finds the tragedy in the disparate and desperate circumstances amid which Gacy might have represented an illusion of hope.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Oct. 2025
-
In the process, the day-to-day nightmare of Dana’s new reality gets lost, even if the more insinuating discomfort of her present-day reality has been enhanced.—
Daniel Fienberg,
The Hollywood Reporter,
8 Dec. 2022
Adjective
-
In this case, that ball happens to be the complex that serves as the symbolic seat of the nation’s vibrant, messy, questioning, deeply political and hugely alive arts and culture scene.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
While the raw metal value of Olympic medals is small compared with the millions of dollars athletes invest in training, their collective and symbolic value often far exceeds their material worth.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The expressive and excitable young girl stumbles along, while the wary grown-up remains controlled and refined — even though both are completely lost.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Jeremy and Cindy Bearman, a husband-wife duo with pedigrees from New York City’s ABC Kitchen and db Bistro Moderne, have created a seasonal menu that is technique-forward and expressive.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hinting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hinting. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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