insinuated

Insinuated is the past tense and past participle of insinuate, a verb meaning to suggest or hint at something indirectly or covertly, rather than stating it outright. An insinuation is an indirect suggestion, often negative.

Etymology: from Latin insinuare “to lead or wind into,” from in- “into” + sinuare “to bend, wind,” reflecting the idea of weaving an idea into discourse.

Usage and connotations: Insinuation frequently carries a pejorative nuance, implying suspicion, blame, or a questionable motive. It is commonly used when a speaker wants to cast doubt without direct accusation. It can also appear in literary or journalistic contexts to depict manipulated information or gossip.

Grammar: It is transitive: you insinuate something about someone or something. Pattern: insinuate that... or insinuate (someone’s name) into... For example: “The editor insinuated that the campaign was compromised” or “She insinuated that he had lied.” Distinction from imply: to insinuate focuses on covert suggestion with potential malice; to imply is to express indirectly and neutrally.

Related forms: insinuation (noun), insinuating (present participle/adjective). See also allude, suggest, imply.