Intimated

To intimate means to subtly suggest or hint at something, often without stating it directly. It involves conveying an idea, feeling, or information indirectly, relying on implication rather than explicit declaration. The goal is to communicate something in a way that leaves room for interpretation or plausible deniability. Intimating often relies on non-verbal cues, indirect speech, or implied meanings within a conversation or situation. It is used to test the waters, to avoid direct confrontation, or to suggest a possibility without committing to it fully.

Intimated meaning with examples

• The detective, through careful questioning and a knowing look, intimated that the suspect's alibi had holes, prompting the suspect to reveal more information. He didn't directly accuse him, but used subtle cues to make him believe it. He was attempting to reveal his secrets.
• During the meeting, the CEO intimated that layoffs were possible without explicitly saying so, causing a wave of worry among the employees. His words left the employees fearing for their careers and futures. No one knew if they were to be affected by such an outcome.
• The artist's choice of muted colors and fragmented imagery intimated a sense of loss and melancholy, creating a deep emotional response in the viewer. The audience could understand this emotion from the way he painted his piece.
• She subtly intimated her interest in the job by frequently asking questions about the company and its culture during the interview process. This gave the interviewer the impression that she truly wanted the job.
• The weather forecast, through subtle changes in its graphical representation, intimated a storm was coming, which prompted people to make the appropriate preparations. This allowed people to change their schedules in order to avoid being caught in the storms.