as in charming
likely or intended to win one's affection
the fortune hunter's insinuating attentions were having their intended effect on the naive heiress
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in infiltrating
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way
years were needed for the agent to insinuate himself into the terrorist organization
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in implying
to convey an idea indirectly
are you insinuating that I won by cheating?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in inserting
to put among or between others
quietly insinuated herself among the concertgoers raptly listening to the piano solo
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of insinuating
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
The complaint says that since at least early 2021, McKillips had been posting messages insinuating or explicitly threatening to harm the government or federal agents.
—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC News,
2 Nov. 2022
But Johnson’s pieces were intimate and insinuating, not imposing, rarely much larger than a comic book and easily overlooked.
—
Vince Aletti,
The New Yorker,
22 July 2022
The only sparks in the evening came from countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo (Dionysus/Dracula), who commanded attention at every appearance with his insinuating, chromatic vocal line and some spectacular costumes by Chrisi Karvonides-Dushenko.
—
Heidi Waleson,
WSJ,
10 Aug. 2021
The Harptones had Willie Winfield, a tenor vocalist with immaculate pitch and an insinuating way with a phrase, and Raoul Cita, a gifted vocal arranger who made sure the group's voicings were always distinctive.
—
Richard Sandomir,
New York Times,
3 Aug. 2021
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
30 June 2026
One is to emphasize Iago—the guileful, insinuating convincingness of this malicious supervillain, who works on Othello to the point where any reasonable man would be deceived and fooled and worked into a rage that can lead to such a catastrophe.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
Instead, the group bought ads insinuating that Villegas had been complicit in covering up abuse of minors at his local school district.
—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
15 June 2026
Twice divorced and with two children from previous relationships, Parker, a country girl from Simms, Texas, had a history of quickly insinuating herself into the lives of new friends and craved attention, especially from men, says Bright.
—
Kc Baker,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
The words were insinuating, territorial, postwar code from a man to anyone not scanning as local.
—
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Almost a decade ago, a Palos Township trustee came under fire for Facebook comments insinuating that local schools were full of undocumented Middle Eastern students.
—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
The average analyst has a hold rating and price target insinuating shares can fall more than 32%, according to LSEG.
—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
After news of the explosive discovery of the explosives emerged, members of Orban’s government began insinuating that Ukraine was responsible for the plot.
—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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
The complaint says that since at least early 2021, McKillips had been posting messages insinuating or explicitly threatening to harm the government or federal agents.
—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC News,
2 Nov. 2022
But Johnson’s pieces were intimate and insinuating, not imposing, rarely much larger than a comic book and easily overlooked.
—
Vince Aletti,
The New Yorker,
22 July 2022
The only sparks in the evening came from countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo (Dionysus/Dracula), who commanded attention at every appearance with his insinuating, chromatic vocal line and some spectacular costumes by Chrisi Karvonides-Dushenko.
—
Heidi Waleson,
WSJ,
10 Aug. 2021
The Harptones had Willie Winfield, a tenor vocalist with immaculate pitch and an insinuating way with a phrase, and Raoul Cita, a gifted vocal arranger who made sure the group's voicings were always distinctive.
—
Richard Sandomir,
New York Times,
3 Aug. 2021
Verb
As the escape-room activity kicks off — the guests have 30 minutes to find Aesha’s crew — the boys find plenty of opportunity to make insinuating jokes about tying up the girls, some (Coop) more wholesome than others (Luke).
—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
30 June 2026
One is to emphasize Iago—the guileful, insinuating convincingness of this malicious supervillain, who works on Othello to the point where any reasonable man would be deceived and fooled and worked into a rage that can lead to such a catastrophe.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
Instead, the group bought ads insinuating that Villegas had been complicit in covering up abuse of minors at his local school district.
—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
15 June 2026
Twice divorced and with two children from previous relationships, Parker, a country girl from Simms, Texas, had a history of quickly insinuating herself into the lives of new friends and craved attention, especially from men, says Bright.
—
Kc Baker,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
The words were insinuating, territorial, postwar code from a man to anyone not scanning as local.
—
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Almost a decade ago, a Palos Township trustee came under fire for Facebook comments insinuating that local schools were full of undocumented Middle Eastern students.
—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
The average analyst has a hold rating and price target insinuating shares can fall more than 32%, according to LSEG.
—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
After news of the explosive discovery of the explosives emerged, members of Orban’s government began insinuating that Ukraine was responsible for the plot.
—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insinuating
Adjective
-
Places like the Dolomites in Italy are especially well suited to private active travel, with charming lodges too small for large tour groups.
-
Apparently, mom Donna was meant to go on a date with another guy when Ed saw her, hit her with a not-so-cool-yet-charming pickup line, scooped her and the rest was history.
Verb
-
Towle, 26, is currently in between stages of a clinical trial involving tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy.
-
Lanzani plays Rubio, an army officer tasked with infiltrating the Santa Cruz Church where the relatives of the missing have begun organizing.
Verb
-
The consensus target is more than 6% lower than Macy’s trading price, implying some downside.
-
The Club has a buy-equivalent 1 rating and a $1,300 price target, implying a more than 14% upside from Wednesday's close.
Verb
-
Getting a digital copy of a game works simply by inserting a compatible disc and installing and playing the game.
-
In fact, constantly inserting yourself into everything can slow the organization down and weaken accountability across the team.
Adjective
-
Jehosheba’s mother has her daughter recite an ingratiating thank-you speech to the Aunts.
-
Sweeney stars as Penny Jo, a South Dakota diner waitress with an appealing smile, an ingratiating stammer, a scarf in her hair, and deep reserves of ruthless ambition.
Verb
-
Just a few weeks into the war, one of the Persian Gulf’s top oil producers quietly began sneaking its crude out of the Strait of Hormuz.
-
But neither those measures nor Friday’s sizzling temperatures stopped fans from gathering in hopes of sneaking a peak at their longtime idol and sending Swift their well wishes.
Verb
-
On May 1, 1775, the day the Quebec Act took effect, the life-size marble statue of George III in Montréal – erected in gratitude for his assistance following a fire – was vandalized, indicating disquiet there about this new order.
-
By contrast, the equal weight S&P 500 actually hit a record high yesterday—indicating that tech companies are the ones dragging down the broader index.
Verb
-
Instead of doubling down on a flawed system, policymakers can make gradual changes by introducing new tax categories in the existing framework and imposing taxes that correspond to the alcoholic content of that category.
-
The soap can be absorbed by the berries, potentially introducing contaminants.
Cite this Entry
“Insinuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insinuating. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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