adj
Common
suspected
suhs-PEHK-tihd
Suspected (adj) means Believed to be responsible, true, or present, though not confirmed. Example: “The airline checked every flight for the suspected fault in the engine.”
adj
1
Believed to be responsible, true, or present, though not confirmed.
"The airline checked every flight for the suspected fault in the engine."
"The suspected culprit was brought in for questioning."
"Doctors treated it as a suspected case of food poisoning."
How to use suspected
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThought likely to be the cause, or believed to be true, without full confirmation.
Common pairings
a suspected case
the suspected cause
suspected fraud
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The airline checked every flight for the _____ fault in the engine.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
unsuspected
Related words
Rhymes for suspected
erected
elected
expected
dejected
directed
affected
detected
selected
effected
infected
projected
deflected
See all rhymes for suspected →
Frequently asked questions
What does “suspected” mean?
The word “suspected” means believed to be responsible, true, or present, though not confirmed. In plain terms, thought likely to be the cause, or believed to be true, without full confirmation.
How do you pronounce “suspected”?
“Suspected” is pronounced suhs-PEHK-tihd (/səsˈpɛktɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “suspected” in a sentence?
Here is “suspected” used in a sentence: “The suspected culprit was brought in for questioning.”
What part of speech is “suspected”?
“Suspected” is an adjective.
Is “suspected” a common word?
“Suspected” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between "suspected" and "alleged"?
"Suspected" describes someone or something believed to be responsible, true, or present without confirmation, based on an observer's judgement. "Alleged" means claimed or asserted, often formally, but not yet proven, so it points to a stated accusation rather than a private belief. A "suspected thief" is one people believe did it, while an "alleged thief" is one who has been formally accused.
Can you use "suspected" before a medical condition?
Yes. "Suspected" is commonly placed before a noun to signal that a condition is believed present but not yet confirmed, as in "a suspected fracture" or "suspected pneumonia." It indicates that testing or a formal diagnosis is still needed before the case is certain.
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