Synonyms of imply

imply

verb

im-ˈplī 

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

• indicate
• suggest
• hint
• allude
• infer
• refer
• signify
• mention
• intimate
• insinuate
• point
• signal
• signalize
• smell (of)
• advert
• smack (of)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• declare
• announce
• proclaim
• explain
• describe
• elucidate
• spell out
• delineate

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

Recent Examples of imply

This implies a very strong Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 2.8% (vs. 19.7% for S&P 500). —Trefis Team, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025

Officials in Washington argued that security guarantees were implied in Washington’s holding a financial interest in Ukrainian metal ores, minerals, oil and natural gas, and that such an agreement would provide an incentive to prevent Russian occupation of the resources. —Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025

Feig has recently supported Lively on social media, with the director defending her earlier this month after one Instagram user implied that the actress may have tried to have a disproportionate amount of input on A Simple Favor 2. —Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2025

As its title implies, Suits LA transports the popular USA series from the Big Apple to Tinseltown, following a cast of legal eagles led by Stephen Amell's Ted Black, who has a connection to Suits' Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht, who will recur on the spinoff). —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 25 Feb. 2025