Intimating

Intimating means to subtly suggest or hint at something, often without explicitly stating it. It involves conveying an idea, feeling, or fact indirectly, leaving the interpretation to the receiver. This can be achieved through words, actions, expressions, or a combination thereof. Intimation is often used to create suspense, build anticipation, or to be polite and avoid directness, allowing for plausible deniability. It differs from directly stating something and relies on the audience's ability to decode the hidden message or meaning. It seeks to influence through subtext and implied understanding rather than a clear announcement.

Intimating meaning with examples

• She was clearly frustrated, intimating her dissatisfaction with a long sigh and by avoiding eye contact during the meeting. Her lack of response to the project leader's request made it apparent she disapproved of the team's direction, without voicing a negative opinion.
• The detective, during the interrogation, kept intimating that he had a wealth of evidence against the suspect, though he never presented it outright. His vague comments, paired with a knowing look, were designed to pressure the individual into confessing to the crime.
• The author, through the protagonist's dreams, kept intimating the presence of a dark secret within the family's history. Each dream offered cryptic symbols and foreshadowing, but the reader was left to piece the mystery together.
• While discussing the promotion, the manager kept intimating that experience and skill are important aspects of the selection process. She highlighted previous successes and praised key employees, thus implying who was likely to be chosen.
• He was intimating through his actions that he was going to depart from his current life, but never told his family outright, he sold his car, packed a suitcase, and began looking at one-way tickets to the southern hemisphere.