Vocabulary in context
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Suspect
To believe that something is true or probable; to have a suspicion about something.
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Imagine This
Imagine a detective at a crime scene. A shadowy figure keeps glancing away and changing their story. The detective cannot prove guilt yet, but he strongly suspects the person is involved and weighs the evidence carefully.
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Sounds Like
uh-SPEKT (verb); SUS-pekt (noun, less common); shares sound with related forms like suspicion and inspect
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Looks Like
sus-pect, combining 'sus' (as in suspicious) with 'pect' (to look).
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Remember This
Suspect is related to suspicion and suspecting; root spect/spec means to look. The word can function as a verb (to think something is true), a noun (a person believed to be guilty), or an adjective (describing something as doubtful or questionable).
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Other Forms
suspectsverb
suspectingverb
suspectedadjective
suspectnoun
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Connect With
doubt, suspicion, distrust, infer, presume, surmise, conjecture
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Note
Use 'suspect' with that-clause or 'that' to introduce the idea (e.g., I suspect that..., They suspect he is lying). Distinguish from 'susceptible' (likely to be affected) and from 'suspicion' (a feeling of doubt or mistrust).
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Study Deeper
Examples
- I suspect that he forgot to turn off the stove.
- The police suspect the thief fled the scene after reviewing CCTV footage.
Synonyms
believeconjecturepresumedoubtinfer
Antonyms
knowbe certainconfirm
Etymology
From Latin suspicere 'to look up at, to mistrust,' from sub- (up) + specere (to look).
Mnemonic
Suspect = See Under Suspicion: when you suspect someone, you look at them with suspicion.
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Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Infer
verbTo arrive at a conclusion through reasoning from given facts or evidence; to deduce.
Abandon
verbTo give up completely, to desert or leave behind, or to relinquish a claim, plan, or responsibility.
Abate
verbTo decrease in amount or intensity; to reduce or end something.
Abolish
verbTo formally end or repeal a system, practice, or institution; to officially put an end to something established.
Abridge
verbTo shorten (a text, speech, or other work) by omitting parts; to condense.
Abscond
verbTo depart secretly or flee, especially to avoid detection or arrest.
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