List of 426 Sets of Synonyms - How they Differ - Total of 2307 Words - 383

SYNONYMS: suggest, imply, hint, intimate, insinuate.
These verbs mean to convey thoughts or ideas by indirection.

Suggest refers to the calling of something to mind as the result of an association of ideas or train of thought: His erect and careless attitude suggested assurance and power.
To imply is to suggest a thought or an idea that is unexpressed but that can be inferred from something else, such as a statement that is more explicit: A student seemed to imply disapproval of the rest.
Hint refers to an oblique or covert suggestion that often contains clues: He hinted that he would accept an invitation.
Intimate applies to indirect, subtle expression that often reflects discretion, tact, or reserve: She intimated that she and her husband were having marital problems.
To insinuate is to suggest something, usually something unpleasant, in a covert, sly, and underhanded manner: The columnist insinuated---but never actually asserted---that the candidate had cancer.