suspect

1 of 3

adjective

sus·​pect ˈsə-ˌspekt How to pronounce suspect (audio)
sə-ˈspekt
1
: regarded or deserving to be regarded with suspicion : suspected
investigates suspect employees
2
: doubtful, questionable
whose skills are suspectPeter Vecsey

suspect

2 of 3

noun

sus·​pect ˈsə-ˌspekt How to pronounce suspect (audio)
: one that is suspected
especially : a person suspected of a crime

suspect

3 of 3

verb

sus·​pect sə-ˈspekt How to pronounce suspect (audio)
suspected; suspecting; suspects

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to imagine something to be true or likely

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
Noun
The suspect, Julian Faulkner, 53, was taken into custody. Juhi Doshi, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2024 There are other suspects, like the professor’s handyman, played by Thomas M. Wright with a touch of Manson, as well as Roy’s former partner (Tommy Flanagan), who appears to have masterminded a cover-up. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 23 Mar. 2024 The head of the local police isn’t so sure, but there are plenty of other suspects, including the victim’s two alienated daughters. Karen MacPherson, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024 Police also named 108 young people as suspects in shootings — a 33% increase. Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 22 Mar. 2024 Witnesses identified the suspect, 21, who was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. Kristina Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2024 After a short vehicle pursuit, the suspects were taken into custody separately. S. Dev, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2024 As an example, the department shared on social media a photo of five suspects in a lineup, with the yellow cylinders obscuring their identities. Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Chandler detectives believed the shooting occurred between two groups that knew each other and was an isolated incident, but that no suspect had been identified. The Arizona Republic, 11 Mar. 2024
Verb
The four men suspected of carrying out the attack were arrested near Russia’s border with Ukraine, Russian authorities said. Matthew Chance, CNN, 24 Mar. 2024 For 140 years, people have suspected the ruins of an ancient Roman defensive structure were buried somewhere in Aachen, archaeologist Andreas Schaub said in a March 19 news release from the city. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024 Searches came up empty, and her family suspects foul play, although there have been no official developments in the case in over three years. Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 22 Mar. 2024 Detectives received a general description of the vehicle suspected to be linked to that killing and were piecing together other evidence, but have also asked for the public’s help in finding the shooter. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2024 They are suspected of killing two adult men in separate locations before they were recaptured about 2 p.m. Thursday in Twin Falls. Frances Vinall, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 Some Missourians for years have suspected Kansas could attempt to lure the Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs across the state line. Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024 Still, Jafari suspects that the problem is a result of a massive inflammatory reaction in the body that crosses the blood-brain barrier. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024 No one has reason to suspect this figure on the horse riding away. Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 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.

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 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

suspect

1 of 3 adjective
sus·​pect ˈsəs-ˌpekt How to pronounce suspect (audio)
sə-ˈspekt
: regarded with suspicion

suspect

2 of 3 noun
sus·​pect ˈsəs-ˌpekt How to pronounce suspect (audio)
: one that is suspected
especially : a person suspected of a crime

suspect

3 of 3 verb
sus·​pect sə-ˈspekt How to pronounce suspect (audio)
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
: regarded or deserving to be regarded with suspicion or heightened scrutiny

suspect

2 of 3 noun
sus·​pect ˈsəs-ˌpekt How to pronounce suspect (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce suspect (audio)
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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