suspect
verb (used with object)
to believe to be guilty, false, counterfeit, undesirable, defective, bad, etc., with little or no proof.
suspected
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past participleof suspect.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof suspect.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
suspectverb (used with object)to believe to be guilty, false, counterfeit, undesirable, defective, bad, etc., with little or no proof.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Percentage of reports the Treasury Department received flagging transactions tied to suspected human trafficking were filed by money-services businesses, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network said in an alert published Thursday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Wildlife officials could not determine the cause of the injuries but suspected that a vehicle may have struck the cougar, as collisions are among the leading causes of wildlife mortalities in L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
The digital affairs ministry's statement was in response to a Financial Times article this week that identified Taiwan as the target of an autonomous AI attack by suspected Chinese hackers.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
La Liga officials are set to carry out a pitch inspection at Celta Vigo's Estadio de Balaidos following a suspected fungus outbreak.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
John Surratt was suspected in the Seward attack, but there was no proof.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
