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
Examples of suspect in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Josh Dulaney, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
Newport Beach police say the victims and suspects in the incident have a prior connection, but gave no further details.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Previous child custody case recordings were obtained by investigators, in which Rickman allegedly discussed death threats made by his mother and her boyfriend, fellow suspect Tad Cullum, with legal representatives.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2024
Investigators said suspect Ricky Hunter had shot the two women and tracked him to Arden Fair mall on Thursday.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 15 Apr. 2024
Police have not named any suspects in the shooting, and no arrests were reported as of early Sunday.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
No information was immediately available regarding the suspects in either shooting or the condition of either victim.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2024
Ruiz said the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Clenard Parker, was denied his commercial driver's license the previous afternoon at the Brenham office.
—Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2024
Using video and witness statements, police identified Anderson as the suspect who burned the vehicle.
—Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Investigators suspect foul play in the disappearance of two women who were traveling to pick up children in Oklahoma over the weekend.
—Sarah Al-Arshani, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
The judges suspected Poodle Moth might be Brooke Shields, Sharon Stone or Shania Twain.
—Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
Cases have been detected in herds in Texas, Michigan, Kansas and New Mexico, and are suspected in other states, as well.
—Will Stone, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024
Police suspected foul play, and White became the prime suspect.
—Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Apr. 2024
The severe weather tore through the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys earlier in the week, bringing heavy rain, hail and suspected tornadoes to a number of U.S. states, leaving its mark in debris.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2024
As the investigation unfolds, doubts surface, turning Maureen from victim to suspect in a high-stakes, sensitive case.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
In the release, KBI said there is no foul play suspected in Collins’ death.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
Noun
Affidavit details information leading to suspects arrests and their connection to Butler and Kelley.
—Josh Dulaney, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
Newport Beach police say the victims and suspects in the incident have a prior connection, but gave no further details.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Previous child custody case recordings were obtained by investigators, in which Rickman allegedly discussed death threats made by his mother and her boyfriend, fellow suspect Tad Cullum, with legal representatives.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2024
Investigators said suspect Ricky Hunter had shot the two women and tracked him to Arden Fair mall on Thursday.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 15 Apr. 2024
Police have not named any suspects in the shooting, and no arrests were reported as of early Sunday.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
No information was immediately available regarding the suspects in either shooting or the condition of either victim.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2024
Ruiz said the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Clenard Parker, was denied his commercial driver's license the previous afternoon at the Brenham office.
—Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2024
Using video and witness statements, police identified Anderson as the suspect who burned the vehicle.
—Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
Verb
Advertisement Schey also led the case against California’s 1994 law, Proposition 187, that sought to deny medical care, social services and education to people suspected of lacking lawful immigration status.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Investigators suspect foul play in the disappearance of two women who were traveling to pick up children in Oklahoma over the weekend.
—Sarah Al-Arshani, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
The judges suspected Poodle Moth might be Brooke Shields, Sharon Stone or Shania Twain.
—Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
Cases have been detected in herds in Texas, Michigan, Kansas and New Mexico, and are suspected in other states, as well.
—Will Stone, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024
Police suspected foul play, and White became the prime suspect.
—Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Apr. 2024
The severe weather tore through the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys earlier in the week, bringing heavy rain, hail and suspected tornadoes to a number of U.S. states, leaving its mark in debris.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2024
As the investigation unfolds, doubts surface, turning Maureen from victim to suspect in a high-stakes, sensitive case.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
In the release, KBI said there is no foul play suspected in Collins’ death.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'suspect.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near suspect
Cite this Entry
“Suspect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suspect. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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