intimation

Faint early sign

An intimation is a hint or indirect suggestion of something: The first intimation of trouble came when the phones went dead.

The word implies subtlety—an intimation is not a direct statement but something glimpsed or sensed: There was no intimation that she planned to resign.

To give intimation of something is to signal it obliquely.

premonition

forewarning

Notice of future trouble

omenProphetic indicator
signMark conveying information
portentSign of future calamity

presentiment · foreshadowing · harbinger · augury · foreboding · warning · precursor · herald · presage · indication

hint

clue

Solving aid

inklingSlight, uncertain awareness
suggestionIdea proposed for consideration
allusionIndirect reference to something

insinuation · implication · glimpse · trace · nuance · whisper · veiled · subtle · oblique · indirect

announcement

notification

Formal notice given

noticeBecome aware of
communicationExchanging ideas or information
declarationFormal public announcement

disclosure · statement · word · mention · reference · advisory · alert · indication · signal · briefing

Categories

hintshint, clue, tip, nudge, cue
omensomens, omen, portent, portents, signs
Suggestinghint, imply, indicate, suggest, allude
innuendoinnuendo, sexual innuendo, double entendre, double meaning, implied meaning
implicationsimplication, implied meaning, inference, connotation, innuendo
undertonesundertone, connotation, nuance, implication, subtext

Opposites

directness of communication

intimationannouncement

Public declaration of information

declaration · proclamation · pronouncement · expression · avowal

certainty and completeness of information

intimationconfirmation

Establishing something as true

answer · solution · proof · certainty · full disclosure

Family

intimating, intimations

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G