1
as in to guess
to form an opinion from little or no evidence
we suspected that the runaway was a little younger than the 16 she claimed to be—more like 13
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to doubt
to have no trust or confidence in
I suspected him from the moment he said he was an old friend of my sister's, since I probably would have heard about him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in questionable
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged
since she was carrying no cash or credit cards, her claim to the store's detectives that she had intended to pay for the items was suspect
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in defendant
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of suspect
David Brennan, ABC News, 26 Oct. 2025
Sones also found a gray hooded sweatshirt consistent with the sweatshirt worn by the second suspect on the recording.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2025
New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2025
One month later, suspect Bryan Kohberger was arrested in Pennsylvania.
—James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suspect
Verb
Police did not offer any information on the timing or circumstances of the second suspect's arrest.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 26 Oct. 2025
Sones also found a gray hooded sweatshirt consistent with the sweatshirt worn by the second suspect on the recording.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
For decades, scientists have suspected that the voices heard by people with schizophrenia might be their own inner speech gone awry.
—New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2025
One month later, suspect Bryan Kohberger was arrested in Pennsylvania.
—James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suspect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suspect
Verb
-
Nelson may have guessed correctly on the president digging his heels into tariffs seven years on from his first term, but the taxes may not be around for much longer.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Joyspan is for anyone who’s aging, and guess who that is?—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In the end, due to jurors doubting Natale's testimony, Merlino was acquitted of the murder charges.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Experts also doubt that even substantial imports from Argentina would be able to address domestic supply issues or meaningfully lower record-high beef prices.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But for Dylan, going from Jew to Jesus freak—however slack a Jew he’d been—was no more questionable or embarrassing to him than going from acoustic to electric.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
But Gates said that past investments fighting climate change have been misplaced, and too much good money has been put into expensive and questionable efforts.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The defendants have denied the allegations.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Vance plays Leila’s boss at the law firm; Shaw plays a partner at the firm and Leila’s second chair; Rhys plays Leila’s husband, the prosecutor on the case; and Reynor plays her client, the defendant.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
All the original Hinas on Kele had to assume Jason was toast if new Hina lost, so why not even the score by losing and taking out an original Uli in Shannon instead?—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Jaxon Knopf, Rhys Mulligan, and Nina Barker-Francis will assume the roles of the golden trio (Harry, Ron, and Hermione respectively) beginning in audiobook four and carrying through to the epic conclusion.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Julie Mayhew, owner of Mayville Farm, a small farm sanctuary in Racine, said she's publicly questioned Shalom for years.—
Quinn Clark,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Bessent was questioned by Democrats and some Republicans for his support, in the context of Argentina being a competitor to the US in exporting soybeans to China.—
Daniel Flatley,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Some impersonated tax officers to frighten British pensioners into draining their life savings into suspicious bank accounts; others peddled irresistible student loan offers to American high schoolers.—
Snigdha Poonam,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Police said officers were dispatched and arrived within two minutes of the 911 call — first reported as a suspicious event and later upgraded to a burglary in progress — and that the Criminal Investigations Bureau dedicated more than 100 investigative hours to identifying those involved.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
To find out if typhus was the sole culprit for the demise of soldiers, the authors of the new study used a method known as high-throughput sequencing, which can sequence millions of DNA fragments at a time.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Though Locci's husband, Mele, was convicted of the murders in 1970, he was later released after the culprit struck again by killing teenage couple Pasquale Gentilcore and Stefania Pettini in September 1974.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Suspect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suspect. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share