To hint, to suggest, to imply, to intimate, to insinuate

To hint (to smb., at smth.) – (when intr., often foll by at; when tr., takes a clause as object) to suggest or imply indirectly (намекать (на что-л.), наводить на мысль (о чём-л.), дать понять), implies the use of a remote or covert suggestion and often also connotes lack of candor, frankness, or straightforwardness

looking for a minute at the soft hinted green in the branches against the sky

he was not candid with her about his feelings; for once, when he had merely hinted at them to her, she had laughed—

the Star Route frauds, hinted at while Hayes was president, were uncovered before the death of Garfield

The government minister hinted at an early election, but refused to give an exact date. – Министр намекнул на досрочные выборы, но не назвал точную дату.

Mum's hinted to me (that) she might pay for my trip to Mexico if I pass all my exams. [+ (that) clause]

The government has pardoned 200 political prisoners and hinted at the early release of at least 170 more. [I usually + at]

To suggest – to produce (an idea) in the mind (внушать; подсказывать (мысль); намекать; наводить на мысль (напоминать, сказать, говорить, убеждать)), emphasizes a putting into the mind as the result of an association of ideas, an awakening of a desire, or an initiating of a train of thought

the militant severity of his judgments, and the caustic wit of his comments, suggest . . . how long and bitter would be the struggle

designing attractive books with jackets that truly suggest their contents

he can suggest in his work the immobility of a plain or the extreme action of a bolt of lightning, without showing either

To suggest an idea/theory/hypothesis/price

I suggested to them waiting

Does the name suggest nothing to you? — Разве это имя вам ничего не говорит?

An idea suggested itself to me. — Мне пришла в голову мысль.

What does this shape suggest to you? — Это что-нибудь вам напоминает?

She suggested (to us) that an exception be / should be made. — Она пыталась нас убедить в том, что должно быть сделано исключение.

Did she suggest where we should meet? — Она сказала, где мы должны встретиться?

He told me a story which suggested a plot for a novel.

Does anything suggest itself (= Have you got any ideas about what we should do)?

To imply – to communicate (an idea or feeling) without saying it directly, or (formal) to involve (something) or make it necessary (выражать неявно, иметь в виду, намекать) – not directly; is in general opposed to express; the term stresses a suggesting, or putting into the mind, of an idea, a thought, or a meaning that is involved in a statement, an action, a situation, or a word and forms a part, but not necessarily an obvious part, of its full signification or significance

the philosophy of Nature which is implied in Chinese art

dislikes intensely to say this; in chapter after chapter he approaches it and implies it, only to draw back from saying it quite baldly

Very often the difference between suggest and imply is not clear, though suggest often connotes the necessity of delicate perception and imply connotes the need of inference

A competent portraitist knows how to imply the profile in the full face

the "sayings" of a community, its proverbs, are its characteristic comment upon life; they imply its history, suggest its attitude toward the world and its way of accepting life

His silence implied consent. — Его молчание означало согласие.

It is not directly asserted, but it seems to be implied. — Это не утверждается открыто, но, видимо, подразумевается.

what are you implying by that remark?

He said he only had time for a couple of pints, implying that he normally drank more. [+ that clause]

I'm not implying anything about your cooking, but could we eat out tonight?

(formal) Socialism implies equality.

To intimate – to make clear (what you think or want) without stating it directly; to hint; suggest; to proclaim; make known (подразумевать; намекать, вскользь упоминать) – directly; frequently implies a lighter or more elusive suggestion than hint but it connotes delicacy of approach rather than lack of candor or frankness

He said that he had to be prudent or might not be able to say all that he thought, thus intimating to his hearers that they might infer that he meant more—

She lit another cigarette and he intimated his disapproval by coughing loudly.

She has intimated that she will resign if she loses the vote. [+ that clause]

To insinuate – to suggest, without being direct, that something unpleasant is true (внушать исподволь, давать понять, намекать (обычно на что-л. негативное; проникать; вкрадываться, втираться (в доверие) постепенно или хитростью вводить, внедрять, распространять), implies an artful hinting or a conveying, especially of an unpleasant or depreciative suggestion, in an underhanded or devious manner

By his tone and expression, rather than by his words, he insinuated that the boy was not to be trusted

he could quietly insinuate the most scandalously hilarious things about the Joneses

the voice that insinuates that Jews and Negroes and Catholics are inferior excrescences on our body politic—

She insinuated (to us) that her partner had embezzled funds. — Она исподволь внушила нам, что её партнёр растратил деньги.

Are you insinuating (that) I'm losing my nerve? [+ (that) clause]

What are you insinuating, Daniel?

(formal disapproving) If you insinuate yourself into something, you use clever, secret and often unpleasant methods to gradually become part of it.

Over the years she insinuated herself into the great man's life.

It's a computer virus that insinuates itself into a system via other software.

To insinuate into one’s favour

The spirit of scholastic erudition insinuated itself into Italian literature. — Дух схоластической эрудиции проник в итальянскую литературу.

That new student has no business trying to insinuate himself into the teacher's favour; it won't make any difference to his marks. — Этот студент напрасно пытается вызвать к себе симпатию со стороны преподавателя; на его оценках это не скажется.

to insinuate doubts through propaganda — сеять сомнения через пропаганду