INSINUATE • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Insinuate

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/ɪnsˈɪnjueɪt/ Listen

verb

Insinuate v. t. (past & past part. insinuated; pres. part. insinuating)

1.

To introduce gently or slowly, as by a winding or narrow passage, or a gentle, persistent movement. "The water easily insinuates itself into, and placidly distends, the vessels of vegetables."

2.

To introduce artfully; to infuse gently; to instill. "All the art of rhetoric, besides order and clearness, are for nothing else but to insinuate wrong ideas, move the passions, and thereby mislead the judgment." "Horace laughs to shame all follies and insinuates virtue, rather by familiar examples than by the severity of precepts."

3.

To hint; to suggest by remote allusion; often used derogatorily; as, did you mean to insinuate anything?

4.

To push or work (one's self), as into favor; to introduce by slow, gentle, or artful means; to ingratiate; used reflexively. "He insinuated himself into the very good grace of the Duke of Buckingham."

Synonyms: To instill; hint; suggest; intimate.

Insinuate v. i.

1.

To creep, wind, or flow in; to enter gently, slowly, or imperceptibly, as into crevices.

2.

To ingratiate one's self; to obtain access or favor by flattery or cunning. "He would insinuate with thee but to make thee sigh." "To insinuate, flatter, bow, and bend my limbs."

See images of 'Insinuate'

Etymology of 'Insinuate'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Insinuate" Quotes from Famous Books

... meant compromise and cessation of hostilities, while the re-election of Lincoln meant prosecution of the War to the bitter end. The toadying Raiders, who were perpetually hanging around the gate to get a chance to insinuate themselves into the favor of the Rebel officers, persuaded them that we were all so bitterly hostile to our Government for not exchanging us that if we were allowed to vote we would cast an overwhelming majority in ...

— Andersonville, complete • John McElroy

... stiff as a flag pole: "Do you mean to insinuate that my son is guilty of some criminal transaction?" he thundered forth, and struck the top of the table with the bones of ...

— The Goose Man • Jacob Wassermann

... the fairy, in self-justification, had ventured further to insinuate, that there is more than one kind of prudence, and that the prudence of Mrs Grove was of another and higher kind, than a simple youth could be supposed to comprehend, his enlightenment might not yet have been accomplished. If it had been averred that mamma's faith, ...

— Janet's Love and Service • Margaret M Robertson

... Mrs. Wood, "you are trying to insinuate that the present generation is lazy, and I'm sure it isn't. Look at Harry. He works as hard as ...

— Beautiful Joe - An Autobiography of a Dog • by Marshall Saunders

... a difficult part to play, for most agents have a desire of becoming confidants also, and that Mrs. Hazleton determined her attorney should not be. The task was to insinuate her purposes rather than to speak them—to act, without betraying the motive of action—to make another act, without committing herself ...

— The International Monthly, Volume 2, No. 4, March, 1851 • Various

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