suspected
Thought possibly guilty
Suspected describes someone or something believed to be guilty, responsible, or true, but not yet confirmed.
A suspected killer awaits investigation.
A suspected cause needs verification.
The word carries an air of accusation without proof—suspicion exists, but certainty doesn't.
To be suspected of something is to be under doubt or scrutiny: He was suspected of embezzlement.
Assertion lacking proof
- arrestSeize by law
- accusedCharged with wrongdoing
- chargeCost or accusation
- defendantParty facing charges
indictment · perpetrator · culprit · prosecution · felony · offense · misconduct · smuggling
Lack of faith
- waryGuardedly alert
- skepticalInclined to question claims
- questionableOf uncertain validity
- untrustworthyNot deserving of confidence
dubious · shady · unreliable · disloyal · treacherous · deceptive · dishonest · two-faced
Not officially validated
- speculativeBased on conjecture
- allegedClaimed but unproven
- presumedBelieved without certainty
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
unverified · possible · potential · putative · rumored · reported · purported · supposed
allegation
Assertion lacking proof
defendant · indictment · perpetrator · culprit · prosecution · felony · offense · misconduct · smuggling · theft
mistrust
Lack of faith
- waryGuardedly alert
- skepticalInclined to question claims
- questionableOf uncertain validity
untrustworthy · dubious · shady · unreliable · disloyal · treacherous · deceptive · dishonest · two-faced · deceitful
unconfirmed
Not officially validated
- speculativeBased on conjecture
- allegedClaimed but unproven
- presumedBelieved without certainty
tentative · unverified · possible · potential · putative · rumored · reported · purported · supposed · ostensible
plot
Storyline or land parcel
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- cover-upHiding wrongdoing from public
- collusionFraudulent secret cooperation
cabal · intrigue · espionage · treason · sedition · subversion · covert · shadowy · whistleblower · leak
evidence
Facts supporting truth
- interrogateQuestion formally and persistently
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
- forensicPertaining to legal investigation
witness · testimony · inquiry · surveillance · probe · scrutiny · examine · alibi · clues · inspect
- criminal traitsconvicted, guilty, accused, arrested, wanted
- accountabilityaccountability, responsibility, accountable, take responsibility, answerability
suspectedconfirmed
Established as accurate
proven · verified · established · known · certain
suspectedtrusted
Earned belief in
believed · cleared · exonerated · above suspicion · vindicated
suspectedunsuspected
Not imagined to exist
undetected · unnoticed · overlooked · hidden · concealed
- usual suspectsThose always initially suspected
- prime suspectMost probable perpetrator
- highly suspect
- suspect lineupArray for witness identification
- The Usual SuspectsPredictable wrongdoers police question
- suspect listCandidates for blame