1
as in to indicate
to convey an idea indirectly this letter suggests that there's more going on than she's telling us

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to recommend
to put (something) forward as one's choice for a wise or proper course of action I suggested that they talk to a therapist about their marital problems

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

Synonym Chooser

How is the word suggest distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of suggest are hint, imply, insinuate, and intimate. While all these words mean "to convey an idea indirectly," suggest may stress putting into the mind by association of ideas, awakening of a desire, or initiating a train of thought.

a film title that suggests its subject matter

In what contexts can hint take the place of suggest?

The meanings of hint and suggest largely overlap; however, hint implies the use of slight or remote suggestion with a minimum of overt statement.

hinted that she might get the job

How do imply and suggest relate to one another?

Imply is close to suggest but may indicate a more definite or logical relation of the unexpressed idea to the expressed.

measures implying that bankruptcy was imminent

Where would insinuate be a reasonable alternative to suggest?

While in some cases nearly identical to suggest, insinuate applies to the conveying of a usually unpleasant idea in a sly underhanded manner.

insinuated that there were shady dealings

When might intimate be a better fit than suggest?

In some situations, the words intimate and suggest are roughly equivalent. However, intimate stresses delicacy of suggestion without connoting any lack of candor.

intimates that there is more to the situation than meets the eye

Examples 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 suggest Indeed, some estimates suggest a tenth of all households contained a Hoosier cabinet by the 1920s. Michelle Mastro, JSTOR Daily, 18 Dec. 2024 Many scholars have pointed to evidence that suggests both the CIA and the mafia were involved in the assassination. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 18 Dec. 2024 Now, the study that suggested its use in COVID is retracted. Beth Greenfield, Fortune Well, 18 Dec. 2024 But the new study suggests that even in adults whose thyroid levels have stayed within the accepted normal range, taking levothyroxine daily over six years is associated with greater bone loss. Kristen Fischer, Health, 7 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for suggest 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suggest
Verb
  • Prior to the decision, Horner recently indicated to F1 reporters that the two candidates to replace Pérez would be Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda, his teammate at RB, which is known for auditioning drivers for the senior team.
    Sahil Kapur, NBC News, 19 Dec. 2024
  • President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of antitrust regulators indicates that the scrutiny of Big Tech during the Biden administration will likely continue during Trump’s term.
    Owen Tedford, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • How often to wash jeans Meanwhile, Levi’s recommends that its customers wash their jeans after every 10 wears.
    Emily Chan, Vogue, 22 Dec. 2024
  • The 7 Biggest Small Kitchen Decorating Mistakes Some designers recommend open, or partly open, shelving as a way to make your ceilings appear taller while also taking up less space.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • To remedy this, the study proposed limiting the number of repetitive motions required of an employee during a shift and using a software program to enforce work breaks — a proposal Amazon rejected.
    Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Lee also proposed a national council where the government and the National Assembly would work together to stabilize state affairs, and said his party won’t seek to impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, a Yoon appointee who’s now serving as acting president.
    Kim Tong-Hyung, Chicago Tribune, 15 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The Guggenheim target of $246 per share implies about 25% upside.
    Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Pokémon characters, and a few more that are heavily implied but not outright confirmed — yet, at least.
    Oliver Brandt, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Police advised residents of Orange City, a town located about 30 miles north of Orlando, to not feed or approach any monkeys, and to contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) if they are spotted.
    Max Hauptman, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
  • People who work with cattle and poultry on affected farms have a greater risk of infection, and are thus advised to monitor any possible symptoms of infection.
    Chad de Guzman, TIME, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The source noted the government has various strategies that can be deployed if a drone poses an imminent threat, but so far, the mysterious flights have not been deemed threatening.
    Zoe Sottile, CNN, 15 Dec. 2024
  • Rugged terrain continues to pose a challenge for fire crews trying to access steep mountainous areas.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Prasad recalls a local official hinting that the decision came from Kumari Mayawati, then the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.
    Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Unlike sports like tennis or even F1 to a certain extent, where earnings are either transparent or heavily hinted of, NASCAR maintains its secrecy around its drivers' earnings.
    Alex Harrington, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Aritzia also offers some third-party apparel and accessories, such as Levi’s, Asics and Citizens of Humanity.
    David Moin, WWD, 13 Dec. 2024
  • The couple have documented their renovation process, excited about their new space that offered nearly double the room compared to their previous home.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near suggest

Cite this Entry

“Suggest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suggest. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on suggest

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