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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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 suggest The careful arrangement of ossuaries within the dolmen suggests communal burial practices and sophisticated ceremonial planning, providing archaeologists with invaluable insight into societal structures in prehistoric Iberia. Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025 Nonetheless, this excellent and unlikely cocktail was, astoundingly and as the name suggests, conceived to be enjoyed in the morning. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2025 Both Van der Velden and Puhm suggested that studios and other media and entertainment companies were quietly embracing AI under the radar, and to expect public announcements about high-profile projects using the technology in the coming months. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Sep. 2025 Slackers aren’t a monolith, these films suggest, and their creed is more than just a hipster variant of laziness. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for suggest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suggest
Verb
  • During the meeting, Dexter Brady, the housing authority's deputy director, indicated that a tentative refinancing deal for debt tied to the Madison Heights apartment complex has not been finalized.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Comey’s former deputy Andrew McCabe, however, has indicated that Comey authorized the leak to a reporter.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Tesla’s board just recommended that shareholders approve a trillion-dollar pay package to incentivize Musk to focus on Tesla.
    Senior Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Your advisor may also recommend tax strategies, based on your financial goals, to help minimize your yearly and lifetime tax liability.
    Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,Kelli Grant, CFP®, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • That Bonnie shows up toting a rifle doesn’t put Benjamin’s mind at ease, but Bonnie hasn’t come to kill Benjamin; but to propose a deal.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
  • The company proposed a 250,000 square foot expansion next to its campus in 2023, however, the incentive for the two product lines is not related to that initial proposal, a city spokesperson said in an email to the Star-Telegram.
    Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Current estimates put the ratio around 217% as of mid‑2025, far above its historical trend and prior highs, implying stocks have grown much faster than the economy itself.
    Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2025
  • But the caption implies at least the little ones were there.
    Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • They’re known as a group of antiheroes who take matters into their own hands, despite what the world’s governments advise.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Responses to the post quickly advised the mother against speaking to the other parent in favor of keeping her daughter’s trust.
    Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Vachon even posed the question of whether working with major brands is all that different from banking on cash rebates that stipulate certain creative conditions, such as having heads of department who come from the countries providing the relief.
    Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025
  • The challenges posed by invasive species mirror the challenges in other time-sensitive fields, like public health, climate adaptation and sustainable agriculture.
    Pam Marrone, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Prior to the finale, however, Joan hinted in an interview with People in September 2024 that getting engaged wasn’t important to her on The Golden Bachelorette.
    Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Dale, who was closeted at the time of his death, leaves behind notes stashed inside his treasured first-edition books hinting that his wife (Jeanne Tripplehorn) may have had something to do with his ostensible suicide.
    Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The parties have been in a standoff for days as Democrats, namely in the Senate, have refused to offer the necessary votes to pass a funding measure that would keep the government open beyond Tuesday.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Some offer free parking to casino rewards club members at certain status levels.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Suggest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suggest. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

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