suggest delicately

USAGE SUMMARY

"suggest delicately" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to recommend something in a gentle or tactful manner. For example, "She decided to suggest delicately that he reconsider his approach." Alternative expressions include "propose gently" and "recommend subtly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"Probably a metabolic imbalance," says Lili, who plans to suggest delicately that the poor girl see a specialist.

The New Yorker

Huang goes on to suggest delicately that no one cooked with the, um, stuff because it tasted like a flaming anatomical feature of Kim Jong Il, but that he had, um, messed with it, "and knew that if you ignited it, the sorghum in it took on a sharp sweetness that would be perfect.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Ms. Dobson said that when she suggested delicately that Nakesha might benefit from seeking help, Nakesha rejected the idea.

The New York Times

As Le Monde suggested delicately last month, "Her integration within the college is perhaps not an unqualified success".The question now is how long she will stay.

The Economist

The BBC's sage parliamentary correspondent, Mark D'Arcy, suggests delicately that the bill will probably be "opposed" amid an "interesting argument" (in other words, it is probably doomed).Yet Mr Skidmore makes his case well, skirting around the question of historical conventions and mandates to focus on the central issue of trust.

The Economist

This relationship again suggests a delicately balanced internal control system.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It's the job of a good sommelier to see problems brewing and head them off by suggesting -- delicately -- something more appropriate.

The New York Times - Food

So I suggested, as delicately as I could, that with all the stress in her life, she might want to go to student health services, where counseling was available.

The New York Times - Health

They play childlike games, clamber over each other and pass through brief gestural encounters that delicately suggest repression and loneliness.

The New York Times - Arts

Delicately suggest that she refrain from airing the family's dirtiest laundry over dinner and you will be subjected to eyebrow-singeing bursts of invective.

The New York Times

Suddenly he is a bare-chested, romantic hero (Chris Trenfield), and the duet danced here is the choreographic high point of the piece, full of fluid, surprising lifts and inventive partnering that delicately suggest the joy and surprise of young lovers.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the adverb after the verb to emphasize the action of suggesting, or before it to emphasize the manner of delivery.

Common error

Do not use "suggest delicately" in situations where clarity and directness are critical for safety or legal compliance. Over-softening a message can lead to the recipient failing to understand the urgency or necessity of the suggestion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "suggest delicately" functions as a verb phrase where the adverb modifies the verb to indicate a specific mode of communication. According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used to describe the act of offering advice or information with extreme care for the recipient's feelings.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Social Media

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "suggest delicately" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase that excels in contexts requiring high emotional intelligence. Ludwig AI data shows its consistent usage across high-authority sources to describe subtle interventions in personal and professional lives. It effectively balances the need to convey information with the need to preserve relationships. Writers should favor this phrase when they want to highlight the sensitivity of a situation or the tactfulness of a character. However, it should be avoided when absolute directness is required. By using alternatives like "<a href="/s/hint+subtly" target="_blank" rel="alternative">hint subtly" or "<a href="/s/propose+gently" target="_blank" rel="alternative">propose gently", you can further refine the specific tone of your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hint subtly

Provides a more informal and less direct way of conveying a message

propose gently

Places more emphasis on the act of offering an idea than the information itself

imply tactfully

Focuses on the unspoken meaning while maintaining social grace

nudge discreetly

Uses a more metaphorical approach to describe a soft push toward a conclusion

broach carefully

Specifically refers to the difficulty of introducing a sensitive topic for the first time

insinuate mildly

Can carry a slightly more negative or secretive connotation than a simple suggestion

allude indirectly

References something without mentioning it specifically

moot tentatively

Common in formal or legal settings to suggest something for discussion

put forward considerately

Highlights the empathetic nature of the speaker toward the listener

intimate softly

A more literary and poetic variation of hinting at a truth

FAQs

How to use "suggest delicately" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a tactful intervention, such as: "She decided to suggest delicately that he reconsider his wardrobe choices before the gala."

What can I say instead of "suggest delicately"?

Depending on your intent, you might use "<a href="/s/hint+subtly" target="_blank" rel="alternative">hint subtly", "<a href="/s/imply+tactfully" target="_blank" rel="alternative">imply tactfully" or "<a href="/s/propose+gently" target="_blank" rel="alternative">propose gently".

Is it better to say "suggest delicately" or "delicately suggest"?

Both are correct. "Suggest delicately" often feels more natural in modern prose, while "<a href="/s/delicately+suggest" target="_blank" rel="alternative">delicately suggest" is a common stylistic choice that places immediate emphasis on the speaker's caution.

When is "suggest delicately" too vague?

It is too vague when the subject is a high-stakes requirement. In those cases, "<a href="/s/strongly+recommend" target="_blank" rel="alternative">strongly recommend" or "<a href="/s/advise" target="_blank" rel="alternative">advise" would be more appropriate.