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

Relevance

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 One doctor suggested that many children with medical complexities are simply too impaired to benefit from living in a home environment. Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025 The polling also suggested that Kemp was the only candidate surveyed who could beat Ossoff in the race. Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 17 Jan. 2025 The busy halls and cautiously optimistic mood among exhibitors and buyers alike suggested that the trade show’s roots in classicism are still appealing and allowed the showcase to reclaim its spot in the menswear conversation. Martino Carrera, WWD, 17 Jan. 2025 Shim, a longtime friend, suggested that Kang apply for the pardon to clear his name — and his record. Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for suggest 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suggest
Verb
  • Some studies indicate that smoke’s contaminants can effectively bypass the skin barrier altogether.
    Jessica Ourisman, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
  • In San Diego, a 2023 report indicated that the majority of people in county jails had previously experienced homelessness.
    Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • McKinnon recommends waiting until kids are about 5 years old to take their first surf lesson.
    Anna Halkidis, Parents, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Costco and Apple were among the companies to recently recommend that shareholders reject anti-DEI proposals, making the case that diversity initiatives are good for business.
    Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • State Senator-elect David Gregory, who proposed the bounty-hunter-style system, wants to allow bail bond agents to be certified to go after those believed to have crossed the border illegally.
    Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
  • Toya, however, proposes a different approach: locking Heavenly, Tea, and Contessa in a room together to hash things out.
    Shelby Stewart, Essence, 27 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • As its name implies, the flattering silhouette has a low waistline.
    Isabel Garcia, People.com, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Representing opera in games, especially in the style found in Assassin’s Creed and Hitman, is technically tricky and not undertaken lightly—likely implying a sincere belief by the game makers in its significant value for the game experience.
    Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • CrowdStrike is aware of the scam and advises individuals to stay vigilant.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 18 Jan. 2025
  • These are foods that the American Academy of Pediatrics has long advised parents to limit in kids' diets for other reasons, too.
    Allison Aubrey, NPR, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • For the occasion, Charles posed in his kilt for royal photographer Millie Pilkington while standing in the library of Balmoral castle in Scotland.
    Marissa Muller, WWD, 25 Jan. 2025
  • In another post, the entire Trump family posed together.
    Tracy Wright, Fox News, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Trump hinted that he was set to take action on his first day in office to pardon individuals charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol.
    Brett Samuels, The Hill, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Kelce recently hinted on The Pat McAfee Show that Swift would be in attendance, adding to the growing speculation that her presence is a good-luck charm for the Chiefs.
    Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • To celebrate the release of this new single barrel pick, Knob Creek is offering fans a chance to win a trip to the distillery that includes a hotel stay, roundtrip airfare, and a $1,000 gift card to the American Outpost gift store (that’s a lot of whiskey stones).
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2025
  • El Car Wash offers equity ownership across the business so employees can benefit from the company’s profits along with professional development and career training opportunities to retain and promote staff, according to Karas.
    Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near suggest

Cite this Entry

“Suggest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suggest. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on suggest

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!