What is the difference between implying something and insinuating it?

Answer 1

Insinuate evokes physical action, because you can actually insinuate your body into a situation if you are sinuous (snakelike) or flexible enough. Its a slippery process, sneaky and dubious, morally questionable. The metaphorical extension builds on the physical origin: insinuate your way into a conversation; insinuate notions into other's minds by suggestive phraseology, let them form the conclusions. If done well, with a touch of the subliminal, they won't even realize where the idea came from.

To imply something is more straightforward. You are still not saying it right out, but you're not being sneaky about it either. It can be purely logical (as WhizMaster indicates) but the word is used loosely in situations where implications may be unclear.

Answer 2

Insinuating - Provoking gradual doubt or suspicion; suggestive

Implying - To involve by logical necessity

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Answer 3

Nothing really.