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sus·pect
ˈsə-ˌspekt 
: one that is suspected
especially
: a person suspected of a crime
suspected; suspecting; suspects
1
: to imagine (one) to be guilty or culpable on slight evidence or without proof
suspect him of giving false information
2
: to have doubts of : distrust
suspects her motives
3
: to imagine to exist or be true, likely, or probable
I suspect he's right
: to imagine something to be true or likely
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Adjective
The room had a suspect odor.
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
Noun
One suspect has been arrested.
She is a possible suspect in connection with the kidnapping.
The prime suspect for the food poisoning is the potato salad.
Verb
He's suspected in four burglaries.
The police do not suspect murder in this case.
The fire chief suspects arson.
I suspect it will rain.
Call the doctor immediately if you suspect you've been infected.
The latest research confirms what scientists have long suspected.
I suspect she's not who she says she is.
“We haven't done our homework.” “I suspected as much.”
I suspected his motives in giving me the money.
I have reason to suspect her sincerity when she makes promises like that.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Rosana Hughes, ajc, 28 Feb. 2023
The results can be life-changing: a victim’s inability to make clear what has happened to them, a suspect’s difficulty in explaining their side of the story.
—Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, 23 Feb. 2023
The results can be life-changing: a victim’s inability to make clear what has happened to them, a suspect’s difficulty in explaining their side of the story.
—Melissa Sanchez And Maryam Jameel, Journal Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2023
The bodycam video shows an officer driving up to Moses, arresting him with help from another officer and getting what looks like a gun out of the suspect's pocket.
—CBS News, 23 Feb. 2023
Police released images on Tuesday of the suspect's car, described as a tan or white Mini Cooper.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 22 Feb. 2023
Police said the suspect’s mom did not know what was going on in her basement.
—Bradford Betz, Fox News, 21 Feb. 2023
Police found Gruchala matched the suspect's description after reviewing a recent list of people who in the past six months had their homes foreclosed by the business and had made veiled threats, Bolin said.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 21 Feb. 2023
Update: Revised at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 to show the correct spelling of the suspect's name.
—Dallas News, 20 Feb. 2023
Kyani Reid, NBC News, 9 Mar. 2023
In recent years, scientists have identified yet another threat to the species’ survival — a deficiency of thiamine is harming Chinook populations, and researchers suspect salmon may be feeding too heavily on numerous anchovies in the Pacific Ocean.
—Ian Jamesstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2023
In a Fight Club turn of events, You fans suspect Joe Goldberg found his very own Tyler Durden.
—Jacqueline Saguin, Good Housekeeping, 26 Feb. 2023
Biden said officials suspect the three subsequent balloons were ordinary ones.
—Ellen Knickmeyer, Chron, 18 Feb. 2023
Biden said officials suspect the three subsequent balloons were ordinary ones.
—Ellen Knickmeyer, al, 18 Feb. 2023
Biden said officials suspect the three subsequent balloons were ordinary ones.
—Ellen Knickmeyer, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Feb. 2023
Investigators do not suspect that drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash, the site also said.
—Deirdre Reilly, Fox News, 15 Dec. 2022
Polhamus said Friday that some opponents suspect the town wants to create a highway through that part of town.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 12 Dec. 2022
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Noun
Police have released photos of a homicide suspect’s car that was involved in the first of three separate Atlanta shootings Sunday that left two men dead and a 15-year-old boy injured.
—Rosana Hughes, ajc, 28 Feb. 2023
The results can be life-changing: a victim’s inability to make clear what has happened to them, a suspect’s difficulty in explaining their side of the story.
—Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, 23 Feb. 2023
The results can be life-changing: a victim’s inability to make clear what has happened to them, a suspect’s difficulty in explaining their side of the story.
—Melissa Sanchez And Maryam Jameel, Journal Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2023
The bodycam video shows an officer driving up to Moses, arresting him with help from another officer and getting what looks like a gun out of the suspect's pocket.
—CBS News, 23 Feb. 2023
Police released images on Tuesday of the suspect's car, described as a tan or white Mini Cooper.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 22 Feb. 2023
Police said the suspect’s mom did not know what was going on in her basement.
—Bradford Betz, Fox News, 21 Feb. 2023
Police found Gruchala matched the suspect's description after reviewing a recent list of people who in the past six months had their homes foreclosed by the business and had made veiled threats, Bolin said.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 21 Feb. 2023
Update: Revised at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 to show the correct spelling of the suspect's name.
—Dallas News, 20 Feb. 2023
Verb
According to the post, investigators do not suspect foul play at this time.
—Kyani Reid, NBC News, 9 Mar. 2023
In recent years, scientists have identified yet another threat to the species’ survival — a deficiency of thiamine is harming Chinook populations, and researchers suspect salmon may be feeding too heavily on numerous anchovies in the Pacific Ocean.
—Ian Jamesstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2023
In a Fight Club turn of events, You fans suspect Joe Goldberg found his very own Tyler Durden.
—Jacqueline Saguin, Good Housekeeping, 26 Feb. 2023
Biden said officials suspect the three subsequent balloons were ordinary ones.
—Ellen Knickmeyer, Chron, 18 Feb. 2023
Biden said officials suspect the three subsequent balloons were ordinary ones.
—Ellen Knickmeyer, al, 18 Feb. 2023
Biden said officials suspect the three subsequent balloons were ordinary ones.
—Ellen Knickmeyer, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Feb. 2023
Investigators do not suspect that drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash, the site also said.
—Deirdre Reilly, Fox News, 15 Dec. 2022
Polhamus said Friday that some opponents suspect the town wants to create a highway through that part of town.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 12 Dec. 2022
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These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'suspect.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin suspectus, from past participle of suspicere
Verb
Middle English, from Latin suspectare, frequentative of suspicere to look up at, regard with awe, suspect, from sub-, sus- up, secretly + specere to look at — more at sub-, spy
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1591, in the meaning defined above
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of suspect was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near suspect
Cite this Entry
“Suspect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suspect. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.
Kids Definition
suspect
1 of 3 adjective
sus·pect
ˈsəs-ˌpekt
sə-ˈspekt
: regarded with suspicion
suspect
2 of 3 noun
sus·pect
ˈsəs-ˌpekt
: one that is suspected
especially
: a person suspected of a crime
suspect
3 of 3 verb
sus·pect
sə-ˈspekt
1
: to have doubts about
2
: to believe to be guilty without proof
suspect someone of theft
3
: to suppose to be true or likely
I suspect that it will rain
Legal Definition
suspect
1 of 3 adjective
sus·pect
ˈsəs-ˌpekt, sə-ˈspekt
: regarded or deserving to be regarded with suspicion or heightened scrutiny
suspect
2 of 3 noun
sus·pect
ˈsəs-ˌpekt
: a person suspected of a crime
also
: a person apprehended for but not yet charged with an offense
suspect
3 of 3 transitive verb
sus·pect
sə-ˈspekt
1
: to imagine (one) to be guilty on slight evidence or without proof
2
: to imagine to exist or be probable
they had reasonable cause to suspect abuse
Etymology
Adjective
Latin suspectus, from past participle of suspicere to look up at, regard with awe, suspect, from sub- sus- up, secretly + specere to look at
More from Merriam-Webster on suspect
Nglish: Translation of suspect for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of suspect for Arabic Speakers
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