# Difference between "imply" and "intimate" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 9, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-imply-and-intimate/379711 "2006-11-09T15:39:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-imply-and-intimate/379711/1 "2006-11-09T15:39:03Z")
Can someone help me out here? I’m not seeing the difference (which is why I don’t use “intimate”). Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-imply-and-intimate/379711/2 "2006-11-09T15:44:12Z")
I believe the denotation is the same; they are synonyms. IMHO “intimate” usually carries a negative connotation, such as when implying something that is offensive or insulting to the listener. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-imply-and-intimate/379711/3 "2006-11-09T15:52:04Z")
[QUOTE=CookingWithGas] I believe the denotation is the same; they are synonyms. IMHO “intimate” usually carries a negative connotation, such as when implying something that is offensive or insulting to the listener. [/QUOTE] Well that would be a distinction, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![CJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-imply-and-intimate/379711/4 "2006-11-09T16:05:28Z")
“To intimate” is to make someone familiar with something; it does not preclude direct statement, but it usually means some indirect method is being used. “To imply” is to pass knowledge indirectly or by forcing a particular conclusion. It is usually limited to a single fact or conclusion (i.e. an implication). For example, you imply your boss is a jerk, but you intimate your feelings about your boss. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-imply-and-intimate/379711/5 "2006-11-09T16:12:06Z")
While we’re here, can I get a ruling on “insinuate”? ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-imply-and-intimate/379711/6 "2006-11-09T18:44:40Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] While we’re here, can I get a ruling on “insinuate”? [/QUOTE] I’ll suggest that an ‘implication’ is just a deduction that can be made. Positive, negative or neutral. ‘Insinuation’ often has devious intent. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-imply-and-intimate/379711/7 "2006-11-09T19:38:59Z")
[QUOTE=CookingWithGas] I believe the denotation is the same; they are synonyms. IMHO “intimate” usually carries a negative connotation, such as when implying something that is offensive or insulting to the listener. [/QUOTE] I don’t think this is correct at all. “Imply” means that you’re not saying it directly. “Intimate” means that you’re saying something privately or confidentially (it could be direct or indirect). ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-imply-and-intimate/379711/8 "2006-11-09T20:26:37Z")
[QUOTE=acsenray] I don’t think this is correct at all. “Imply” means that you’re not saying it directly. “Intimate” means that you’re saying something privately or confidentially (it could be direct or indirect). [/QUOTE] FWIW, I’ve never associated “intimate” with any sort of negative connotation. ---
**Author:** ![CJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-imply-and-intimate/379711/9 "2006-11-09T22:30:30Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] While we’re here, can I get a ruling on “insinuate”? [/QUOTE] This is to introduce something gradually or subtlely; it differs from “imply” because it is not limited to strictly deducible conclusions, and it differs from “intimate” in the subtle/gradual method only. There is also the fact that “insinuate” can be applied to things other than abstract thoughts/ideas (e.g. a person can insinuate themselves into a conversation), whereas “imply” and “infer” always take thoughts/beliefs/feeelings and the like as the object of their action. Subtleties and complications commonly lead people to believe treachery is afoot, so insinuate often has an insidious connotation. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-imply-and-intimate/379711/10 "2006-11-10T01:39:57Z")
[QUOTE=acsenray] I don’t think this is correct at all. “Imply” means that you’re not saying it directly. “Intimate” means that you’re saying something privately or confidentially (it could be direct or indirect). [/QUOTE] The sense of saying something privately is confusing the adjective with the verb. [Cite.](http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/intimate) [Cite.](http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/thesaurus?book=Thesaurus&va=intimate&x=21&y=14) (click on “adjective”) [Cite.](http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=41649&dict=CALD) However, neither of these use the word “imply,” and the connotation, as I mentioned, was only my opinion.