Navigate The Communication Resource Center

Communication General Questions Assertive Communication & Listening Practical Communication Techniques, Tips, and Advice Non-Verbal Communications Primer Communication That Creates Conflict - Eliminating Firestarters Overcoming Barriers to Communication Communicating With Groups and Public Speaking Communication, learning from goofs, gaffs, and oopsies!

Innuendo - A Conflict Starter and A Cowardly Approach To Communication

Innuendo is defined as follows:

A veiled or hinted reflection on the character or reputation of a person

It falls into the category of passive aggressive communication because a) it is indirect and b) it is usually used to insult or attack.

It's fairly obvious that any attack or insult is likely to cause the other person (the person being attacked) to react with anger resulting in escalated conflict. Oddly enough a person using innuendo may actually be unaware of his or her own feelings and unaware that he or she has actually attacked another person.

This leads to a fundamental problems where the innuendo user denies any intention to insult when challenged by the recipient. Even if the person using it is aware of his/her malicious intent, there may be continued denials since the use of it is clearly designed to escape responsiblity for the attack, and to provide deniability.

Innuendo is fatal to dialogue and creating understanding.