insinuating
adjective
in·sin·u·at·ing in-ˈsin-yə-ˌwā-tiŋ 
-yü-ˌā-
1
: winning favor and confidence by imperceptible degrees : ingratiating
2
: tending gradually to cause doubt, distrust, or change of outlook often in a slyly subtle manner
insinuating remarks
insinuatingly adverb
Synonyms
- disarming
- endearing
- ingratiating
- winning
- winsome
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the fortune hunter's insinuating attentions were having their intended effect on the naive heiress
Recent Examples on the Web 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
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 Word History
First Known Use
1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1
insinuating 1 of 2
adjective
as in affecting
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
- affecting
- charming
- ingratiating
- winning
- adorable
- touching
- endearing
- disarming
- winsome
- servile
- likable
- obsequious
- kowtowing
- deferential
- effusive
- lovable
- sycophantic
- flattering
- groveling
- drooling
- likeable
- grovelling
- poignant
- slobbering
- loveable
- slavering
- adulatory
- saccharine
- oleaginous
- unctuous
- soapy
- sugary
- fulsome
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- alienating
- displeasing
- repulsive
- repugnant
- uningratiating
- arrogant
- disaffecting
- insolent
- unendearing
- disdainful
- haughty
- scornful
- proud
insinuating
2 of 2verb
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
- infiltrating
- sneaking
- inserting
- slipping
- winding
- worming
- introducing
- working in
- creeping
- wriggling
- wiggling
- edging
- interposing
- interpolating
2
as in implying
to convey an idea indirectly are you insinuating that I won by cheating? Synonyms & Similar Words
- implying
- indicating
- hinting
- suggesting
- intimating
- alluding
- inferring
- referring
- mentioning
- pointing
- signaling
- adverting
- signifying
- signalizing
- signalling
- smelling (of)
- smacking (of)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- announcing
- declaring
- proclaiming
- explaining
- describing
- elucidating
- delineating
- spelling out
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
- inserting
- introducing
- interjecting
- injecting
- interpolating
- interspersing
- adding
- interposing
- intercalating
- working in
- edging in
- thrusting
- installing
- fitting (in or into)
- weaving
- shoving
- wedging
- cutting in
- insetting
- larding
- sandwiching (in or between)
- inlaying
- attaching
- appending
- interfiling
- interlining
- cramming
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- excluding
- eliminating
- withdrawing
- extracting
- deducting
- expelling
- rejecting
- subtracting
- ejecting
- detaching
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- Sphaerocarpus
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- sphaerocarpusses
- sphaerocobaltite
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- sphaerocrystal
- sphaeroid
- sphaerolite
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