suspected 1 of 2

suspected

2 of 2

verb

past tense of suspect
1
2
as in doubted
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

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 suspected
Adjective
Peskov has referred all questions to Rospotrebnadzor, which does not mention suspected plague in its reports. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, the surveillance system creates an evidence trail that her office can use to prosecute suspected criminals. — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026 The explosion targeting Ranucci occurred on the eighth anniversary of the car bomb slaying of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who wrote extensively about suspected corruption in political and business circles. — CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 In Thembisa, a suburb of Johannesburg, rioters reportedly threw stones at police and suspected migrants, with witnesses saying sporadic gunfire was heard. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026 During the voyage, according to the DOJ, crew members discovered numerous packages hidden inside the ship’s garbage room that contained suspected narcotics. — City News Service, Daily News, 23 May 2026 The case has become one of the most emblematic examples cited by rights organizations accusing Venezuela’s security apparatus of using arbitrary detention, incommunicado imprisonment and forced disappearances against dissidents and suspected opponents. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026 Six cases have been confirmed as Andes strain hantavirus infections, while two remain suspected cases. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 9 May 2026 The scheme is designed to identify suspected criminals, combat identity fraud, and to police the EU's limit on 90-day stays within a 180-day period, according to the European Commission. — Emma Clarke, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
In a separate incident, Modesto police cited a Riverbank High School student suspected of making a threatening social media post targeting Beyer following the fights. — Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026 Some prominent figures have been detained Officials jailed so far include Vucic’s chief of criminal police, Marko Kricak, and another senior police official, both suspected of abuse of office in connection with a high-profile murder investigation. — Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026 The physicist suspected that one function and one number might suffice to construct all 36 functions and quantities. — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 3 Nov. 2026 Macura is suspected of trying to take millions of dollars out of the bank's vault and faces charges of abuse of office, according to prosecutors. — ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026 For months, Republicans have suspected that the second Dan Sullivan’s Senate bid was designed to confuse voters as part of a broader scheme allegedly plotted by the Democratic Party to boost Peltola’s chances. — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 2 Nov. 2026 Although many dealers suspected that the fair would be closed on Saturday, the decision to remain shut on Sunday came as a surprise. — News Desk, Artforum, 2 Nov. 2026 Devin Jacob Ballard, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, is suspected of killing Anna Yagi, 39, in a hotel in Naha, the prefectural capital, earlier this month. — Reuters, NBC news, 26 Oct. 2026 Earlier in the day, police officers preemptively searched protesters, and arrested people suspected of carrying potential weapons, including fireworks and ball bearings, Reuters reported. — James Cirrone , Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suspected
Adjective
  • Without a remedy likely to address its alleged injury, the DOJ lacked standing.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Police believe the alleged misconduct dates back to at least 2022 when Bumper was brought on as the new food services director.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Monahan did more digging and found out there were three adult brothers living in Boston who could have owned the canns, and DeAngelis guessed that they were made before Henry Vassall’s death in 1769.
    — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2026
  • That Bell was the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes was still known to only a handful of people, including Robert Louis Stevenson, who had by then guessed the truth.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Her Justice Department interview took place after publication, Gayles noted, and her lack of recollection did not establish that the reporters knowingly published falsehoods or seriously doubted their account.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
  • She has been doubted, memed, and then beloved since becoming the CEO of Xbox tasked with turning around Microsoft’s struggling video game division in February—even while being best known for her lack of video game experience.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The presumed reasoning behind why the film was ignored is multilayered.
    — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner assumed custody of the body for further investigation into the cause of death.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Castro assumed Clark wanted to speak to him about an incident earlier that day in which Castro was accused of threatening an officer with a knife, according to an arrest warrant.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Experts have questioned exactly what role the Salvadoran troops are playing in Haiti.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Drug Enforcement Administration agents and local investigators have questioned several people about the circumstances of her death.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Antioch senior Chance Verden is back where he’s supposed to be.
    — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
  • That sort of thing wasn’t supposed to be possible under such pedestrian conditions.
    — George Musser, Quanta Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Chris Costagli, a vice president and food thought leader at NielsenIQ, said high gas prices have worsened Americans’ concerns about affordability, and that's dampening demand for Halloween treats.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Primetime director Lance Oppenheim thought of Lipnicki for his latest role while rewatching Jerry Maguire as a reference point for the new movie.
    — Mike Miller, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Suspected.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suspected. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!