1
as in to indicate
to convey an idea indirectly this letter suggests that there's more going on than she's telling us

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to recommend
to put (something) forward as one's choice for a wise or proper course of action I suggested that they talk to a therapist about their marital problems

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

Synonym Chooser

How is the word suggest distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of suggest are hint, imply, insinuate, and intimate. While all these words mean "to convey an idea indirectly," suggest may stress putting into the mind by association of ideas, awakening of a desire, or initiating a train of thought.

a film title that suggests its subject matter

In what contexts can hint take the place of suggest?

The meanings of hint and suggest largely overlap; however, hint implies the use of slight or remote suggestion with a minimum of overt statement.

hinted that she might get the job

How do imply and suggest relate to one another?

Imply is close to suggest but may indicate a more definite or logical relation of the unexpressed idea to the expressed.

measures implying that bankruptcy was imminent

Where would insinuate be a reasonable alternative to suggest?

While in some cases nearly identical to suggest, insinuate applies to the conveying of a usually unpleasant idea in a sly underhanded manner.

insinuated that there were shady dealings

When might intimate be a better fit than suggest?

In some situations, the words intimate and suggest are roughly equivalent. However, intimate stresses delicacy of suggestion without connoting any lack of candor.

intimates that there is more to the situation than meets the eye

Examples of suggest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Her recent event with Republican supporters in Pennsylvania, coupled with an interview on Fox News, a platform known for its Republican viewership, suggests a strategic effort to reach undecided voters who may be open to crossing party lines. Washington Examiner Staff, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 19 Oct. 2024 The contrast suggests Generation X has struggled more than other age groups to recover from the Great Recession of 2008. Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 19 Oct. 2024 Early voting The North Carolina State Board of Elections said more than 200,000 early voting ballots were cast as of Thursday afternoon, which suggests the state is on track to come close to — or exceed — its 2020 early voting numbers. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 18 Oct. 2024 Advertisement Some analysts, though, suggested that killings of senior militant leaders often yield little long-term benefit. Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for suggest 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'suggest.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near suggest

Cite this Entry

“Suggest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suggest. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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