to introduce (an idea) or suggest (something unpleasant) in a subtle or oblique manner
My liveliness and your solidity would produce perfection. – Not that I presume to insinuate, however, that some people may not think you perfection already — Jane Austen
(+ into) to gain acceptance for (e.g. oneself) by crafty or stealthy means
He insinuates himself into the favour of the chief
to insert or squeeze in (oneself, a remark, etc) somewhere
Fagin walked straight up the stairs … and softly insinuating himself into the chamber, looked anxiously about — Dickens
I will insinuate a few remarks at this point — William James
insinuating adj
insinuative /-tiv/ adj
insinuator noun
[Latin insinuatus, past part. of insinuare to bend inwards, from in-2 + sinuare: see sinuate]