Insinuations

Insinuations are subtle and indirect suggestions, hints, or implications, often of something negative or critical. They are typically meant to plant an idea or suspicion in someone's mind without explicitly stating it. The effectiveness of insinuations lies in their ambiguity, allowing the listener to draw their own conclusions, which can make them difficult to directly refute or deny. They often rely on unspoken assumptions, coded language, or veiled references to convey a message that, if stated plainly, would be more easily challenged.

Insinuations meaning with examples

• During the board meeting, the CEO’s casual comment about recent financial performance was rife with insinuations of mismanagement within the marketing department. No specific individuals were named, but the unspoken implication hung heavy in the air. The employees of the marketing department shifted in their seats uncomfortably, sensing an underlying critique, which made for a tense atmosphere. The ambiguity allowed suspicion to fester.
• The gossip columnist's article was filled with insinuations about the celebrity couple’s relationship, dropping hints about secret meetings and disagreements. The veiled language, avoiding concrete accusations, fueled public speculation and conjecture. Each subtly phrased line of text was crafted to paint a picture, without ever saying it outright. The couple's lawyers considered the ethical implications of such insinuations.
• Despite the lawyer's efforts to phrase questions tactfully, the cross-examination contained a series of carefully constructed insinuations meant to discredit the witness's testimony. The attorney hoped to create doubt and distrust. By subtly suggesting inconsistencies and ulterior motives, they aimed to make the jury question the witness’s credibility and influence the case. The careful crafting of the questions added doubt where there was none before.
• The political opponent’s campaign used a series of seemingly innocuous advertisements that were laden with insinuations about the incumbent’s character and policy decisions. The adverts implied incompetence without offering direct accusations, relying on evocative imagery and carefully chosen sound bites. This strategy allowed them to attack the incumbent while keeping a degree of plausible deniability. The veiled criticisms subtly swayed public perception.