sus·pect
ˈsə-ˌspekt 
: one that is suspected
especially
: a person suspected of a crime
suspected; suspecting; suspects
1
: to imagine (one) to be guilty or culpable on slight evidence or without proof
suspect him of giving false information
2
: to have doubts of : distrust
suspects her motives
3
: to imagine to exist or be true, likely, or probable
I suspect he's right
: to imagine something to be true or likely
Synonyms
Examples of suspect in a Sentence
Adjective
The room had a suspect odor.
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
Noun
One suspect has been arrested.
She is a possible suspect in connection with the kidnapping.
The prime suspect for the food poisoning is the potato salad.
Verb
He's suspected in four burglaries.
The police do not suspect murder in this case.
The fire chief suspects arson.
I suspect it will rain.
Call the doctor immediately if you suspect you've been infected.
The latest research confirms what scientists have long suspected.
I suspect she's not who she says she is.
“We haven't done our homework.” “I suspected as much.”
I suspected his motives in giving me the money.
I have reason to suspect her sincerity when she makes promises like that.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2024
The charges the suspect is facing are both related to the most recent victims.
—Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 26 Apr. 2024
The suspect arrested in the killing of 66-year-old Mirna Soza had once been banned from the system by a court order.
—Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
An unknown suspect emerged from the passenger side of the vehicle and violently attacked Carlos, fatally stabbing him before fleeing the scene.
—Coleby Phillips, The Arizona Republic, 26 Apr. 2024
Darien and family members of the suspect could not be immediately reached for comment Thursday.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 25 Apr. 2024
Price's arrest came after four additional suspects were previously arrested in connection to the deaths of Butler and Kelley, who disappeared without a trace on March 30.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 24 Apr. 2024
In two of the shootings, the suspect was also a minor.
—Journal Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2024
The suspect – identified as a 51-year-old San Jose woman – wrote approximately 45 fraudulent checks to herself totaling more than $400,000, Shih said, adding that the checks were purported to be reimbursement for services that were not rendered.
—Jason Green, The Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2024
Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2024
Stray suspects the solution to the problem of social media algorithms may in fact be … more algorithms.
—Elana Klein, WIRED, 29 Apr. 2024
At the scene, Coroner Noordhoek, who suspected suicide, had looked for any evidence that someone else was involved — like signs of a struggle.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2024
The collision’s cause is under investigation, but drugs and alcohol are not suspected to have played a role in the crash, the CHP said.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 26 Apr. 2024
In the time since, suspect Maxwell Anderson pleaded not guilty to charges and asked to go to trial.
—David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2024
Sophisticated theft gangs from South America are suspected in a rash of residential break-ins across the country in recent years, including the one in the Palisades.
—Harriet Ryan, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Barker told local media that no foul play is suspected and that the dynamite was discovered after the owner of the home called a friend to assist them.
—USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
Police suspect the body is Aguasvivas, but are still waiting on results from a DNA test and dental records.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024
Noun
The suspect, who is believed to have been living out of his vehicle, was killed in a gun battle.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2024
The charges the suspect is facing are both related to the most recent victims.
—Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 26 Apr. 2024
The suspect arrested in the killing of 66-year-old Mirna Soza had once been banned from the system by a court order.
—Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
An unknown suspect emerged from the passenger side of the vehicle and violently attacked Carlos, fatally stabbing him before fleeing the scene.
—Coleby Phillips, The Arizona Republic, 26 Apr. 2024
Darien and family members of the suspect could not be immediately reached for comment Thursday.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 25 Apr. 2024
Price's arrest came after four additional suspects were previously arrested in connection to the deaths of Butler and Kelley, who disappeared without a trace on March 30.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 24 Apr. 2024
In two of the shootings, the suspect was also a minor.
—Journal Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2024
The suspect – identified as a 51-year-old San Jose woman – wrote approximately 45 fraudulent checks to herself totaling more than $400,000, Shih said, adding that the checks were purported to be reimbursement for services that were not rendered.
—Jason Green, The Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2024
Verb
In the meantime, the Tesla community increasingly suspects Tesla has cancelled its $25,000 low-cost EV in all but name, and could instead launch a hatchback version of its Model 3 sedan that can be manufactured using existing production lines.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2024
Stray suspects the solution to the problem of social media algorithms may in fact be … more algorithms.
—Elana Klein, WIRED, 29 Apr. 2024
At the scene, Coroner Noordhoek, who suspected suicide, had looked for any evidence that someone else was involved — like signs of a struggle.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2024
The collision’s cause is under investigation, but drugs and alcohol are not suspected to have played a role in the crash, the CHP said.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 26 Apr. 2024
In the time since, suspect Maxwell Anderson pleaded not guilty to charges and asked to go to trial.
—David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2024
Sophisticated theft gangs from South America are suspected in a rash of residential break-ins across the country in recent years, including the one in the Palisades.
—Harriet Ryan, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Barker told local media that no foul play is suspected and that the dynamite was discovered after the owner of the home called a friend to assist them.
—USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
Police suspect the body is Aguasvivas, but are still waiting on results from a DNA test and dental records.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'suspect.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near suspect
Cite this Entry
“Suspect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suspect. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
suspect
1 of 3 adjective
sus·pect
ˈsəs-ˌpekt
sə-ˈspekt
: regarded with suspicion
suspect
2 of 3 noun
sus·pect
ˈsəs-ˌpekt
: one that is suspected
especially
: a person suspected of a crime
suspect
3 of 3 verb
sus·pect
sə-ˈspekt
1
: to have doubts about
2
: to believe to be guilty without proof
suspect someone of theft
3
: to suppose to be true or likely
I suspect that it will rain
Legal Definition
suspect
1 of 3 adjective
sus·pect
ˈsəs-ˌpekt, sə-ˈspekt
: regarded or deserving to be regarded with suspicion or heightened scrutiny
suspect
2 of 3 noun
sus·pect
ˈsəs-ˌpekt
: a person suspected of a crime
also
: a person apprehended for but not yet charged with an offense
suspect
3 of 3 transitive verb
sus·pect
sə-ˈspekt
1
: to imagine (one) to be guilty on slight evidence or without proof
2
: to imagine to exist or be probable
they had reasonable cause to suspect abuse
Etymology
Adjective
Latin suspectus, from past participle of suspicere to look up at, regard with awe, suspect, from sub- sus- up, secretly + specere to look at
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