insinuating

[ in-sin-yoo-ey-ting ]

/ ɪnˈsɪn yuˌeɪ tɪŋ /

tending to instill doubts, distrust, etc.; suggestive: an insinuating letter.

gaining favor or winning confidence by artful means: an insinuating manner.

Origin of insinuating

First recorded in 1585–95; insinuate + -ing²

in·sin·u·at·ing·ly, adverb half-in·sin·u·at·ing, adjective half-in·sin·u·at·ing·ly, adverb pre·in·sin·u·at·ing·ly, adverb

un·in·sin·u·at·ing, adjective

She did insinuatingly ask Wilbur what his favourite flower was, but this got her nowhere, because it proved that he did not know.

The Wrong Twin |Harry Leon Wilson
"Yes; but us would be staying here," said Duke insinuatingly.

"Us" |Mary Louisa S. Molesworth
She talked to her softly and insinuatingly, putting Jim out of the way.

The Girls of Central High on Track and Field |David Goodger (goodger@python.org)
The duke's face was insinuatingly bland and his manner smooth as an eel.

The Title Market |Emily Post

The two agents, insinuatingly dangerous, entered the house at once, followed by the corporal from Arcis and one gendarme.

An Historical Mystery |Honore de Balzac