INSINUATION

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does insinuation mean? 

• INSINUATION (noun)
  The noun INSINUATION has 2 senses:

1. an indirect (and usually malicious) implication

2. the act of gaining acceptance or affection for yourself by persuasive and subtle blandishments

  Familiarity information: INSINUATION used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INSINUATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An indirect (and usually malicious) implication

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

innuendo; insinuation

Hypernyms ("insinuation" is a kind of...):

implication (an accusation that brings into intimate and usually incriminating connection)

Derivation:

insinuate (give to understand)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of gaining acceptance or affection for yourself by persuasive and subtle blandishments

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

ingratiation; insinuation

Context example:

she refused to use insinuation in order to gain favor

Hypernyms ("insinuation" is a kind of...):

blandishment; wheedling (the act of urging by means of teasing or flattery)

 Context examples 

Catherine was hurt by these insinuations.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

He also advised me to be composed; I scorned the insinuation of helplessness and distraction, shook off his hand, and began to walk about again.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

It was good to see Laurie square his shoulders, and smile with masculine scorn at that insinuation, as he replied, with his high and mighty air, Amy is too well-bred for that, and I am not the sort of man to submit to it.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Miss Crawford listened; and all her intended compliments and insinuations to Fanny were forgotten: she felt only one thing; and her eyes, bright as they had been before, shewing they could yet be brighter, she exclaimed with eager pleasure, Did he?

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

She gave her an answer which marked her contempt, and instantly left the room, resolving that, whatever might be the inconvenience or expense of so sudden a removal, her beloved Elinor should not be exposed another week to such insinuations.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

She had never found it so difficult to listen to him, though nothing could exceed his solicitude and care, and though his subjects were principally such as were wont to be always interesting: praise, warm, just, and discriminating, of Lady Russell, and insinuations highly rational against Mrs Clay.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I durst make no return to this malicious insinuation, which debased human understanding below the sagacity of a common hound, who has judgment enough to distinguish and follow the cry of the ablest dog in the pack, without being ever mistaken.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

She was remarkably quick in the discovery of attachments, and had enjoyed the advantage of raising the blushes and the vanity of many a young lady by insinuations of her power over such a young man; and this kind of discernment enabled her soon after her arrival at Barton decisively to pronounce that Colonel Brandon was very much in love with Marianne Dashwood.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)