innuendo

Plural: innuendis, innuendoes, innuendos

Noun

• an indirect (and usually malicious) implication
• A derogatory hint or reference to, or (often sexual) insinuation about, a person or thing.
• A remark that is suggestive of something sexual without stating it explicitly.
• A rhetorical device with an omitted, but obvious conclusion, made to increase the force of an argument.
• Part of a pleading in cases of libel and slander, pointing out what and who was meant by the libellous matter or description.

Verb

• To interpret (something libellous or slanderous) in terms of what was implied.
• -ED, -ING, -S or -ES to make a derogatory implication

Examples

• "She made a devious innuendo about her opponent, who was embarrassed."

Synonyms

insinuation