suspected 1 of 2

adjective

as in alleged

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suspected

2 of 2

verb

past tense of suspect
1
as in guessed
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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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
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
The attorney, Paul Robinson, is accused of helping his son conceal a safe suspected of containing cocaine and cash. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Miley has changed her socials to excise the Cyrus from her name, in a move some suspected was a reflection of the ongoing tensions in her family. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026 According to local news reports, police in Pattaya over the weekend apprehended at least 25 individuals suspected of soliciting for prostitution, an offense punishable by fines. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026 The Folsom Police Department will hold a sobriety checkpoint Friday night to identify drivers suspected of being impaired by alcohol or drugs. — Haley Parsley, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026 If someone is suspected of misusing the resource, the system will flag it for administrative review. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026 While the two remained oblivious to each other’s feelings, all their friends suspected the two had a crush on each other. — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026 Though theories implicated everyone from rival rapper Biggie Smalls to Knight’s wife Sharitha — neither of whom was ever charged in connection with the murder — investigators long suspected the killing was gang-related. — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026 The teen is now suspected of murder and authorities are searching for her and her father, who is suspected of several felony violations. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suspected
  1. alleged
  2. guessed
  3. doubted
  4. presumed
  5. assumed
  6. questioned
  7. supposed
  8. thought
Adjective
  • However, what makes Sichuan different is its alleged use of an electromagnetic aircraft-launch system.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The teen, a standout player on his high school football team, remains behind bars over the alleged incident.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of alleged
Verb
  • Hill and White guessed their crowds were up to five times as large as the one at Sam Burley Park – 10,000 to 15,000 for a big game.
    — Austin Horn August 29, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Looking back on her extraordinary life, few could have guessed how big that little girl could dream.
    — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of guessed
Verb
  • The long delay before Davis was charged, DiGiacomo said, did not mean Las Vegas investigators doubted his culpability.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026
  • No one doubted his stuff, but there were times in April, May and June when Painter could not meet the moment.
    — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of doubted
Adjective
  • The presumed reasoning behind why the film was ignored is multilayered.
    — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 8 Aug. 2025
Definition of presumed
Verb
  • The machinery switches on earlier than long assumed, as brain scans of infants reveal.
    — Andrea Gawrylewski, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026
  • For the latter, establish what is known, what is assumed, what still needs to be understood and what requires testing.
    — Mustafa Shreet, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of assumed
Verb
  • He was initially detained and questioned then released from Bahamian custody in April.
    — Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Several election officials and government advocates have questioned how quickly the Postal Service can stand up the systems necessary to ensure the rule can be followed for this election.
    — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of questioned
Verb
  • There’s the basic practical question of how we’re supposed to believe that nobody has figured out who Russ is after more than six episodes.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Because somewhere in the middle of caring for your children and parents, you’re still supposed to make room for yourself.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of supposed
Verb
  • The Sox thought Smith had fouled the inside pitch off his bat.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Despite months of processing in solo therapy and in couples therapy, my preparations for the first night away were not thought out—at all.
    — Carla Lalli, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of thought

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suspected
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Cite this Entry

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

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