verb (used with object), in·sin·u·at·ed, in·sin·u·at·ing.
- to suggest or hint slyly: He insinuated that they were lying.
- to instill or infuse subtly or artfully, as into the mind: to insinuate doubts through propaganda.
- to bring or introduce into a position or relation by indirect or artful methods: to insinuate oneself into favor.
verb (used without object), in·sin·u·at·ed, in·sin·u·at·ing.
- to make insinuations.
verb
- (may take a clause as object) to suggest by indirect allusion, hints, innuendo, etc
- (tr) to introduce subtly or deviously
- (tr) to cause (someone, esp oneself) to be accepted by gradual approaches or manoeuvres
1520s, from Latin insinuatus, past participle of insinuare “to throw in, push in, make a way; creep in, intrude, bring in by windings and curvings, wind one’s way into,” from in- “in” (see in- (2)) + sinuare “to wind, bend, curve,” from sinus “a curve, winding.” Sense of “to introduce tortuously or indirectly” is from 1640s. Related: Insinuated; insinuating; insinuatingly.