imply

verb

im-ˈplī How to pronounce imply (audio)
Definition of implynext
as in to indicate
to convey an idea indirectly they may have implied that they'd help, but they didn't actually say so

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word imply distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of imply are hint, insinuate, intimate, and suggest. While all these words mean "to convey an idea indirectly," imply is close to suggest but may indicate a more definite or logical relation of the unexpressed idea to the expressed.

measures implying that bankruptcy was imminent

When is it sensible to use hint instead of imply?

The words hint and imply are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hint implies the use of slight or remote suggestion with a minimum of overt statement.

hinted that she might get the job

When can insinuate be used instead of imply?

The synonyms insinuate and imply are sometimes interchangeable, but insinuate applies to the conveying of a usually unpleasant idea in a sly underhanded manner.

insinuated that there were shady dealings

When could intimate be used to replace imply?

Although the words intimate and imply have much in common, intimate stresses delicacy of suggestion without connoting any lack of candor.

intimates that there is more to the situation than meets the eye

Where would suggest be a reasonable alternative to imply?

While in some cases nearly identical to imply, suggest may stress putting into the mind by association of ideas, awakening of a desire, or initiating a train of thought.

a film title that suggests its subject matter

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of imply Concern about CoreWeave’s ability to manage this debt sent the cost of insuring it against default to a record high last week, with credit default swaps implying a more than 60% chance over the next five years. — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2026 The motion noted that Brockway gave an officer a residence key that was later given to another officer who presumed it to imply consent for entry. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026 The initiative specifically targets performers who coerce visitors for cash or falsely imply that tipping is mandatory, FOX5 said. — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026 Noah Solloway in The Affair, which, as the title implies, is a show about a guy who cheats on his wife. — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for imply
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imply
  1. indicate
  2. suggest
  3. hint
Verb
  • Neither side has indicated when the temporary truce would end.
    — Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Individual containers of food were not marked to indicate the food items to be discarded under time as public health control.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of indicate
Verb
  • Sanders, one of the left’s leading critics of the AI industry, went a step beyond profit-sharing by suggesting this summer that its companies surrender half of their stock to the government.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Totally suggests the pensive headspace of an adult returning to his childhood haunts trying to make sense of it all.
    — Harry Thorfinn-George, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of suggest
Verb
  • Cooley, meanwhile, hinted that even smiling or chatting with teammates can take him out of that preferred mindset.
    — Jesse Granger, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Newer work hints that the brain may even make some of its own supply.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of hint

Browse Nearby Words

imploring
imply
implying
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Imply.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imply. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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