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 For mental rest, Singer suggests carving out daily micro-breaks — three to five minutes to breathe, reflect or write down one positive thing. Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025 Yet Trump’s mercurial nature has given other presidential scholars, who cited the president’s six-month journey to even suggest that Vance and Rubio were in the running to succeed him, some hesitancy. Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 18 Oct. 2025 In the decades after the Second World War, however, studies began to suggest that its effects can be permanent. Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025 Mary Ann suggested calling the police, but Gail told her to wait. Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for suggest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suggest
Verb
  • Their 3-1 victory over the Brewers on Thursday, in a game that felt more comfortable than the score might have indicated, put them in position to get back to the World Series for the second year in a row, third time in six years and fifth time in the last nine.
    Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Their results indicate that thermal machines functioning at the atomic scale are capable of converting not only heat but also correlations into usable work.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The brand recommends setting aside 30 to 45 minutes to fluff the flame-retardant branches for the most realistic result.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The deal has received criticism with key proxy advisor Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) recommending on Monday that shareholders vote against the acquisition.
    Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • On top of that, Joong-keun is proposing the state implement a new tax deduction system to waive corporate and income tax so the employees can receive full benefits of the parenting incentives and more companies can follow suit.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
  • That’s exactly what the Crafted in a Mercedes audio concept proposes to do.
    Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • And pretty much all of the data suffer from the reality that, as any stats teacher will remind you, correlation does not necessarily imply causation.
    Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Morgan Stanley's 12-month price target of $800 implies 18% upside.
    Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Ellison has made a series of C-level hires since the deal closed, including Makan Delrahim, who advised Skydance on its acquisition of Paramount Global, as chief legal officer; former Meta exec Dane Glasgow as chief product officer; and Roku’s Jay Askinasi as chief revenue officer.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Experts still advise moderation—about 8 ounces a day—since too much can add unnecessary sugar to your diet.
    Sarah Garone, Health, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • While wearing an array of styles from athleisure brand Alo, all in a beige-taupe hue, Jenner posed for a series of snaps outside.
    Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Conservatives have grown increasingly worried about the threats posed by antifa after increasingly brazen terroristic actions, such as an armed assault on a Texas ICE facility in July.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Powell hints at further rate cuts In a speech on Tuesday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell hinted that the institution is likely to cut rates again as a weak job market trumps inflation concerns.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025
  • At the end of September, Jason admitted on another episode of their podcast that the brothers' mom, Donna Kelce, has been subtly hinting for more grandkids while talking with Coach Deion Sanders.
    Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Geiger said many stores began offering discounts and clearance on select Halloween items even in early October.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Swirling together American history with eerie hauntings, a trip to Salem, Massachusetts offers a fascinating look at one of the country’s most tragic events—the Salem witch trials of 1692.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Suggest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suggest. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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