Word
insinuate
Phoneticsin·sin·u·ate, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈsɪnjueɪt/
UK/ɪnsˈɪnjuːˌeɪt/
Definition
v. to suggest something bad without saying it directly. You use this when someone hints at an unpleasant idea instead of stating it clearly.
v. to suggest something unpleasant indirectly rather than stating it openly. Often takes a that-clause or an object naming the implied fault.
Examples
“He insinuates that she is lying.”
“The article insinuates that the mayor knew about the scandal long before it became public.”
“Rather than accusing her colleague directly, she insinuated in the meeting that the missing files reflected a deeper pattern of carelessness.”
Examples
simple
“He insinuates that she is lying.”
contextual
“The article insinuates that the mayor knew about the scandal long before it became public.”
complex
“Rather than accusing her colleague directly, she insinuated in the meeting that the missing files reflected a deeper pattern of carelessness.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “insinuate” in context.
Verb
01. attempt to insinuate
“He attempted to insinuate that the election had been rigged.”
verb + to + verb
02. dare insinuate
“How dare you insinuate that I lied about the results!”
verb + verb
03. insinuate affair
“The tabloid insinuated an affair between the two ministers.”
verb + noun
04. insinuate bias
“Critics insinuated bias in the selection process for judges.”
verb + noun
05. insinuate corruption
“Opponents insinuated corruption in the awarding of the contract.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. falsely insinuate
“The report falsely insinuated that the mayor had accepted bribes.”
adv + verb
Noun
07. article insinuate
“The article insinuated that the charity had misused donations.”
noun + verb
08. critic insinuate
“Critics insinuated that the data had been manipulated to mislead voters.”
noun + verb
09. dare insinuate that
“How dare you insinuate that she cheated in the exam?”
10. falsely insinuate wrongdoing
“The blog falsely insinuated wrongdoing by the hospital staff.”
11. insinuate corruption in office
“The opposition press insinuated corruption in high office.”
12. insinuate that someone lied
“Are you insinuating that I lied about my qualifications?”
Usage
The verb is transitive and often takes a that-clause. In the reflexive pattern 'insinuate oneself into', it means to gain a position gradually.
Real-World Examples
“El-Sayed had previously insinuated in a post that Vance would not have introduced his wife, Usha, to his late grandfather, a remark that was widely interpreted as jab at Usha Vance’s Indian-American heritage.” “They reveal that, in 1973, shortly after the production of PCBs in Anniston was stopped, a government minister in Westminster was traducing Gowan from the dispatch box, insinuating that he had doctored his evidence.” “Her ex-partner eventually managed to get hold of him, but he insinuated all the money was gone.” “Ripley hardly knows Greenleaf, but insinuates himself into his bohemian life in the Italian village of Mongibello.” Etymology
First attested in 1529; Borrowed from Latin īnsinuātus, perfect passive participle of īnsinuō (“to push in, creep in, steal in”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from in- (“in”) + sinus (“a winding, bend, bay, fold, bosom”) -ō (verb-forming suffix). Regular participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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