WordValeinnuendo
an indirect, usually critical hint
an indirect hint, often critical
In more detail
1. (noun) an indirect or subtle suggestion or hint, often negative or implying something bad
2. (noun) a remark that suggests something rude, offensive, or sexual without stating it directly
Examples
- 1. The report was full of innuendos about the manager's honesty.
- 2. His comments about her appearance were full of sexual innuendo.
How to use innuendo
Innuendo refers to an implicit suggestion that is often negative, vulgar, or suggestive, conveyed indirectly rather than stated outright. It typically appears in formal or literary contexts when discussing communication that relies on implication rather than explicit statement, and frequently involves sexual or disparaging undertones. The word emphasizes both the indirectness and the somewhat inappropriate or questionable nature of what is being suggested.
Common phrases
- sexual innuendo
- racial innuendo
- laced with innuendo
- riddled with innuendo
- thinly veiled innuendo
- make an innuendo
Synonyms
insinuation · implication · hint · suggestion · allusion
Opposites
directness · explicitness
Word family
innuendo (noun) · innuendos/innuendoes (plural)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use innuendo to mean simply 'a hint' or 'suggestion' without recognizing that it carries a strong connotation of something inappropriate, offensive, or sexual; it is not a neutral term for any indirect communication.
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