The difference between Doubtful and Suspect

When used as nouns, doubtful means a doubtful person or thing, whereas suspect means a person who is suspected of something, in particular of committing a crime.

When used as adjectives, doubtful means subject to, or causing doubt, whereas suspect means viewed with suspicion.


Suspect is also verb with the meaning: to imagine or suppose (something) to be true, or to exist, without proof.

check bellow for the other definitions of Doubtful and Suspect

  1. Doubtful as an adjective:

    Subject to, or causing doubt.

  2. Doubtful as an adjective:

    Experiencing or showing doubt, sceptical.

  3. Doubtful as an adjective:

    Undecided or of uncertain outcome.

  4. Doubtful as an adjective (obsolete):

    Fearsome, dreadful.

  5. Doubtful as an adjective:

    Improbable or unlikely.

  6. Doubtful as an adjective:

    Suspicious, or of dubious character.

  7. Doubtful as an adjective:

    Unclear or unreliable.

  1. Doubtful as a noun:

    A doubtful person or thing.

  1. Suspect as a verb (transitive):

    To imagine or suppose (something) to be true, or to exist, without proof.

    Examples:

    "to suspect the presence of disease"

  2. Suspect as a verb (transitive):

    To distrust or have doubts about (something or someone).

    Examples:

    "to suspect the truth of a story"

    "rfquotek Addison"

  3. Suspect as a verb (transitive):

    To believe (someone) to be guilty.

    Examples:

    "I suspect him of being the thief."

  4. Suspect as a verb (intransitive):

    To have suspicion.

  5. Suspect as a verb (transitive, obsolete):

    To look up to; to respect.

  1. Suspect as a noun:

    A person who is suspected of something, in particular of committing a crime.

    Examples:

    "Round up the usual suspects.'' — ''Casablanca"

  1. Suspect as an adjective:

    Viewed with suspicion; suspected.

  2. Suspect as an adjective (nonstandard):

    Viewing with suspicion; suspecting.