insinuating

/in'sinjueitiɳ/

Thân thiện

She gave him an insinuating smile as she offered the compliment.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Suggesting something unpleasant indirectly or subtly: Describing a manner of speaking or behaving that implies something negative or critical in a covert, often sly, way.
   • Intended to gain favor or advantage through subtle, often flattering, means: Describing behavior that is designed to ingratiate oneself with someone in a calculated, smooth, and sometimes manipulative way.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • She made an insinuating remark about his past, leaving everyone uncomfortable. (Her comment indirectly hinted at something negative about his history.)
  • His insinuating tone suggested he knew more than he was saying. (His way of speaking subtly implied he had secret knowledge.)
  • The politician used an insinuating charm to win over the undecided voters. (He employed a smooth, calculated pleasantness to gain their support.)

Advanced Usage

• "In an insinuating manner": behaving or speaking with indirect suggestions.
  • He asked the question in an insinuating manner, implying I was lying.
• Used to describe a quality of speech, writing, or behavior that is subtly penetrating or creeping in its effect.
  • The insinuating doubt planted by the lawyer slowly eroded the witness's credibility.

Variants and Related Words

• Insinuate (verb): To suggest or hint (something negative) in an indirect and unpleasant way; to maneuver oneself into a favorable position by subtle manipulation.
  • He tried to insinuate that the project failed due to her leadership.
• Insinuation (noun): An indirect or covert suggestion or hint, typically of a derogatory nature.
  • She was angered by the insinuation of dishonesty.
• Insinuatingly (adverb): In an insinuating manner.
  • He smiled insinuatingly.

Synonyms

• Hinting: Suggesting indirectly.
• Implicative: Tending to imply.
• Ingratiating: Intended to gain approval or favor, especially through deliberate effort.
• Suggestive: Tending to suggest an idea.

Related Phrases

• To make insinuations: To imply negative things indirectly.
  • The article made insinuations about the company's financial health without providing proof.
• An insinuating smile/smirk: A smile that suggests hidden knowledge or negative implication.
  • She gave him an insinuating smile that made him nervous.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. calculated to please or gain favor
   • a smooth ingratiating manner

Từ đồng nghĩa

• ingratiating
• ingratiatory