[sug.gest] vt [L suggestus, pp. of suggerere to pile up, furnish, suggest, fr. sub- + gerere to carry] (1526) 1 a obs: to seek to influence: seduce b: to call forth: evoke c: to mention or imply as a possibility "~ed that he might bring his family" d: to propose as desirable or fitting "~ a stroll" e: to offer for consideration or as a hypothesis "~ a solution to a problem"
2. a: to call to mind by thought or association "the explosion ... ~ed sabotage --F. L. Paxson" b: to serve as a motive or inspiration for "a play ~ed by a historic incident" -- sug.gest.er n syn suggest, imply, hint, intimate, insinuate mean to convey an idea indirectly. 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". 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". hint implies the use of slight or remote suggestion with a minimum of overt statement "hinted that she might have a job lined up". intimate stresses delicacy of suggestion without connoting any lack of candor "intimates that there is more to the situation than meets the eye". insinuate applies to the conveying of a usually unpleasant idea in a sly underhanded manner "insinuated that there were shady dealings".