ほのめかす・仄めかすhonomekasu[4]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. godan verb, transitive verbto hint at; to intimate; to suggest; to allude to; to imply
   講演こうえん者しゃは政界せいかいの腐敗ふはいをほのめかした。↗

   The speaker hinted at corruption in the political world.

• Synonym示唆しさNeutralA written/formal word for hinting or suggesting indirectly, as in 「示唆に富む」 and 「関与を示唆する」.
• Synonym暗示あんじNeutralA hint or suggestion; also covers psychological suggestion, as in 「自己暗示」. More objective in tone than 「ほのめかす」.
• Synonym匂わすにおわすNeutralHints at something indirectly, as in 「引退を匂わす」. Nearly interchangeable with 「ほのめかす」 but more colloquial.
• Synonym匂わせるにおわせるNeutralAnother form of 「匂わす」. Online, 「匂わせ」 also means deliberately dropping clues that invite speculation about a romance.
• RelatedサジェストNeutralA loanword meaning suggestion or proposal; today mostly used for the search-suggestion feature on websites and apps.
• Antonym明言するNeutralTo state something clearly and explicitly — the opposite of the roundabout 「仄めかす」.
• Antonym断言するNeutralTo assert something categorically and positively — the opposite of 「仄めかす」's vague, indirect hinting.

Use 「ほのめかす」 to reveal something indirectly without saying it outright, as in 「辞意をほのめかす」. In speech, 「匂わせる」 is common; in formal prose, 「示唆」 works for hints that give insight.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. それとなく態度たいどで、間接かんせつ的てきに相手あいてに伝つたえる。