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
Josh Dulaney, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
Newport Beach police say the victims and suspects in the incident have a prior connection, but gave no further details.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Previous child custody case recordings were obtained by investigators, in which Rickman allegedly discussed death threats made by his mother and her boyfriend, fellow suspect Tad Cullum, with legal representatives.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2024
Investigators said suspect Ricky Hunter had shot the two women and tracked him to Arden Fair mall on Thursday.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 15 Apr. 2024
Police have not named any suspects in the shooting, and no arrests were reported as of early Sunday.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
No information was immediately available regarding the suspects in either shooting or the condition of either victim.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2024
Ruiz said the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Clenard Parker, was denied his commercial driver's license the previous afternoon at the Brenham office.
—Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2024
Using video and witness statements, police identified Anderson as the suspect who burned the vehicle.
—Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024
Victim's father: 'Justice was finally served' Prior to being convicted, Williams had been suspected in at least one other child abuse case before in Alabama: He was charged with abuse of children in Phenix City in 2009 and acquitted by a jury in 2012.
—USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
Authorities suspect Rostas is responsible for stealing $900 from a church in Queens, New York, $500 from a church in Houston and more than $1,700 from a church in Oregon, the Los Angeles Times reported.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Sacramento Bee, 16 Apr. 2024
Is the audience supposed to admire her stout dispassion, or suspect that her moral compass has spun out of control?
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2024
There was no motive or suspect at this time, the sheriff's office said.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2024
When it is suspected that a plane was hit by lightning, there is a mandatory inspection for damage.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
The men are suspected of vandalism, the recreation area said in a social media post.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
López was arrested and charged in 2022 on suspicion of murder, and prosecutors have also said he is suspected of ordering the murder of Tijuana photojournalist Margarito Martínez Esquivel, although he has not been charged in that case.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
Noun
Affidavit details information leading to suspects arrests and their connection to Butler and Kelley.
—Josh Dulaney, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
Newport Beach police say the victims and suspects in the incident have a prior connection, but gave no further details.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Previous child custody case recordings were obtained by investigators, in which Rickman allegedly discussed death threats made by his mother and her boyfriend, fellow suspect Tad Cullum, with legal representatives.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2024
Investigators said suspect Ricky Hunter had shot the two women and tracked him to Arden Fair mall on Thursday.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 15 Apr. 2024
Police have not named any suspects in the shooting, and no arrests were reported as of early Sunday.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
No information was immediately available regarding the suspects in either shooting or the condition of either victim.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2024
Ruiz said the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Clenard Parker, was denied his commercial driver's license the previous afternoon at the Brenham office.
—Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2024
Using video and witness statements, police identified Anderson as the suspect who burned the vehicle.
—Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
Verb
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
Victim's father: 'Justice was finally served' Prior to being convicted, Williams had been suspected in at least one other child abuse case before in Alabama: He was charged with abuse of children in Phenix City in 2009 and acquitted by a jury in 2012.
—USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
Authorities suspect Rostas is responsible for stealing $900 from a church in Queens, New York, $500 from a church in Houston and more than $1,700 from a church in Oregon, the Los Angeles Times reported.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Sacramento Bee, 16 Apr. 2024
Is the audience supposed to admire her stout dispassion, or suspect that her moral compass has spun out of control?
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2024
There was no motive or suspect at this time, the sheriff's office said.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2024
When it is suspected that a plane was hit by lightning, there is a mandatory inspection for damage.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
The men are suspected of vandalism, the recreation area said in a social media post.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
López was arrested and charged in 2022 on suspicion of murder, and prosecutors have also said he is suspected of ordering the murder of Tijuana photojournalist Margarito Martínez Esquivel, although he has not been charged in that case.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 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 23 Apr. 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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