as in defendant
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1
as in to guess
to form an opinion from little or no evidence
we suspected that the runaway was a little younger than the 16 she claimed to be—more like 13
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to doubt
to have no trust or confidence in
I suspected him from the moment he said he was an old friend of my sister's, since I probably would have heard about him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in questionable
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of suspect
Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Police have identified Jacob Daniel Baker, 36, as the suspect in the three killings on Hawaii’s Big Island.
—Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 18 June 2026
No foul play is suspected, and the cause of death is currently unknown as autopsy results are pending, MNPD’s statement reads.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for suspect
Noun
The Nicollet County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to the 2100 block of Bunker Lane on Thursday to help apprehend a suspect, later identified as a man, in a vehicle pursuit.
—Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Police have identified Jacob Daniel Baker, 36, as the suspect in the three killings on Hawaii’s Big Island.
—Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Verb
Investigation continues Authorities have not announced whether foul play is suspected.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 18 June 2026
No foul play is suspected, and the cause of death is currently unknown as autopsy results are pending, MNPD’s statement reads.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for suspect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suspect
Noun
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Under the current law, judges must presume mental illness was a factor if a defendant with a legitimate diagnosis seeks diversion.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
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Coleman, Carter's co-defendant, was arrested by Murfreesboro Police SWAT officers at his home in Murfreesboro.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
Verb
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And guess what's going to end up happening?—
Rodger Dean Duncan,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
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Ujal Thakor was first to the buzzer, incorrectly guessing Tennessee.—
Louis Peitzman,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Still, Tom Bartošák-Harlow, a spokesman for the International Chamber of Shipping, a trade association for shipowners and operators, doubted whether merchant ships would quickly start their engines and head for the exit.—
Tom Bowman,
NPR,
17 June 2026
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In its complaint, FECR cast doubts as to whether commuter rail on the corridor would even be possible.—
Joshua Ceballos,
Miami Herald,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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Whether this claim is credible is questionable, as the Islamic Republic’s media often dissimilates.—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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The west Broward city already is the focus of scrutiny by the Broward Office of Inspector General, and the Sun Sentinel has reported extensively for years on the city’s questionable financial decisions on its news and opinion pages.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
12 June 2026
Noun
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Goalkeeper Barbosa was viewed in Brazil as the main culprit and, sadly and unfairly, suffered abuse for it for the rest of his life.—
Will Jeanes,
New York Times,
20 June 2026
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Beauty Products The biggest culprit of a cluttered bathroom?—
Emily Benda Gaylord,
The Spruce,
20 June 2026
Verb
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Prioritize safety, stay impeccably informed, and assume responsibility to shield lives and property.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
19 June 2026
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And perhaps more to the point, the genome might not submit to the kind of straightforward input-output approach that such AI models ultimately assume.—
Philip Ball,
Quanta Magazine,
18 June 2026
Verb
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For generations, those rules have been questioned and debated but rarely tested – until now.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
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Leaders at the Department of Health and Human Services applauded the FTC’s move, pointing to an HHS review that questioned WPATH standards.—
Devi Shastri,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
Adjective
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Reynoso said suspicious bank activity and withdrawals were made to their accounts.—
Charlie De Mar,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
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Be highly suspicious of content that offers simple, absolute solutions to complex medical conditions.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Suspect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suspect. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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