insinuate

/ɪnˈsɪnjueɪt/

//ɪnˈsɪnjueɪt// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"insinuate" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“insinuate” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #47,693 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#47,693
frequency rank, English
9
letters
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To hint; to suggest tacitly (usually something bad) while avoiding a direct statement.

Key facts for insinuate
PropertyValue
Headwordinsinuate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɪnˈsɪnjueɪt/
Letters9
Frequency rank#47,693
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “insinuate” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). insinuate lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for insinuate is 9 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪnˈsɪnjueɪt/. Corpus data places it at rank #47,693 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for insinuate, with forms such as "inisnuate", "innsinuate", and "insinaute". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: First attested in 1529; Borrowed from Latin īnsinuātus, perfect passive participle of īnsinuō (“to push in, creep in, steal in”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from in- (“in”) + sinus (“a winding, bend, bay, fold, boso… The correct English form is insinuate, spelled I-N-S-I-N-U-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To hint; to suggest tacitly (usually something bad) while avoiding a direct statement.
  2. 2
    To creep, wind, or flow into; to enter gently, slowly, or imperceptibly, as into crevices.
  3. 3
    To ingratiate; to obtain access to or introduce something by subtle, cunning or artful means.

Etymology

First attested in 1529; Borrowed from Latin īnsinuātus, perfect passive participle of īnsinuō (“to push in, creep in, steal in”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from in- (“in”) + sinus (“a winding, bend, bay, fold, bosom”) -ō (verb-forming suffix). Regular participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English.

This word in other languages

insinuar(Español)insinuer(Français)andeuten(Deutsch)insinuar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: inisnuate,innsinuate,insinaute,insinnuate,insinuaet,insinuatte,insinutae,insiunate,insniuate,inssinuate,isninuate,nisinuate

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of insinuate - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

inisnuate2innsinuate1insinaute2insinnuate1insinuaet2insinuatte1insinutae2insiunate2
Edit distance from "insinuate"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "insinuate"?
"insinuate" is spelled I-N-S-I-N-U-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪnˈsɪnjueɪt/.
What does "insinuate" mean?
As a verb, "insinuate" means: To hint; to suggest tacitly (usually something bad) while avoiding a direct statement.
What are common misspellings of "insinuate"?
Common misspellings include "inisnuate", "innsinuate", "insinaute", "insinnuate", "insinuaet". The correct spelling is "insinuate".
How do you pronounce "insinuate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "insinuate" is /ɪnˈsɪnjueɪt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "insinuate"?
First attested in 1529; Borrowed from Latin īnsinuātus, perfect passive participle of īnsinuō (“to push in, creep in, steal in”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from in- (“in”) + sinus (“a winding, bend, bay, ... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “insinuate”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is I-N-S-I-N-U-A-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪnˈsɪnjueɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list