insinuate
Say it: in-SIN-yoo-ayt /ɪnˈsɪnjʊeɪt/ · verb
What “insinuate” means
Hint at something unpleasant without saying it directly.
More precisely: To suggest something unpleasant indirectly, without saying it outright.
Example: “Are you insinuating that I didn't actually go to the gym?”
When to use it
In conversation, often accusingly, when someone hints at dishonesty, blame or another unpleasant claim instead of stating it openly.
Similar words
imply, hint, intimate
Where it comes from
From Latin insinuare, 'to introduce by winding', from sinus 'a curve'.
Quick check
A colleague says your promotion came 'just after all those lunches with the boss', hinting at favouritism. They…
declare or insinuate?
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insinuate
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