suspect 1 of 3

noun

Definition of suspectnext
as in defendant

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suspect

2 of 3

verb

sə-ˈspekt How to pronounce suspect (audio)
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

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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

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suspect

3 of 3

adjective

ˈsə-ˌspekt How to pronounce suspect (audio)
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

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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
Noun
The state also sought to undercut the defense theory that the DNA could point to an unknown suspect, arguing that trace DNA under fingernails does not automatically suggest a struggle with an assailant. — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026 The Chatrie case involves the hunt for a suspect in an armed bank robbery in busy Midlothian, Virginia, in May 2019, and how police settled on a man named Okello Chatrie as the perpetrator. — Anne Toomey McKenna, The Conversation, 30 June 2026
Verb
At least 25 people are suspected to have died in New Jersey from the sweltering heat wave that had enveloped a large portion of the country, officials said. — Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 6 July 2026 Deputy State Fire Marshals suspect the fireworks may have ignited flammable items that were inside the trash can, ultimately sparking the fire, per the press release. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for suspect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suspect
  1. defendant
  2. guess
  3. doubt
  4. questionable
  5. culprit
  6. assume
  7. question
  8. suspicious
Noun
  • His girlfriend, Syanna Ruiz, held their child in court, demanding the defendants remain behind bars.
    — Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 2 July 2026
  • In court documents, O’Hara alleged the defendants violated his First and Fourth Amendment rights, accusing them of unlawfully restricting free speech and initiating an unlawful seizure while using excessive force.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of defendant
Verb
  • Peter, Anton and Marian Stastny, Quebec Nordiques, 1980-89 Even someone who barely knows a puck from a duck could guess Wayne Gretzky led the NHL in scoring for the 1980s.
    — David J. Neal, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2026
  • Competitive Wordle Score The Wordle Bot gets 1 point for guessing in three and 1 for beating me.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
Definition of guess
Verb
  • With her tight security, especially after the wedding, Lawrence doubts the public would even know if the couple was throwing their first Fourth of July bash as husband and wife in Rhode Island.
    — Bella DeCrescenzo, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Because of South Florida's isolation, Carr doubts news of the Declaration of Independence reached the area's small population.
    — Hank Tester, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of doubt
Adjective
  • During oral arguments, attorneys for both trans athletes had questionable moments.
    — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
  • If the debt isn't actually yours, is too old to be legally enforceable or is otherwise questionable, negotiating may do more harm than good.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 29 June 2026
Definition of questionable
Noun
  • The culprit, Cyclospora cayetanensis, is a microscopic parasite that’s found in human feces.
    — Caroline Kee, NBC news, 3 July 2026
  • Diseases Disease could be the culprit of a cucumber plant’s yellowing leaves.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
Definition of culprit
Verb
  • Some Cuba watchers are skeptical Rodríguez Castro could assume a leading role in the official government.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • Vahidi, who assumed the role after his predecessor Mohammad Pakpour was killed in US-Israeli strikes on the first day of the war, is rarely seen in public.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of assume
Verb
  • Buchhorn’s conviction was overturned in 2021, after the Court of Appeals of Kansas found Buchhorn’s defense did not sufficiently question Erik Mitchell of Frontier Forensics Midwest, an independent contractor who performed Oliver’s autopsy.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026
  • Trump has routinely teased the possibility of seeking a third term since returning to office and openly questioned whether he would be allowed to do so.
    — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Definition of question
Adjective
  • Large-scale events involve tabletop exercises with law enforcement, fire departments, emergency managers and venue officials running through countless scenarios — evacuations, suspicious packages, drones and crowd surges.
    — Bryan West, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Residents who witness suspicious activity can contact non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111 or call 911 when appropriate.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of suspicious

Browse Nearby Words

susceptiveness
suspect
suspected
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Cite this Entry

“Suspect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suspect. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on suspect

Nglish: Translation of suspect for Spanish Speakers

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