Synonyms for suggest
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Indicate — to imply but stop short of explicitly stating (something)
indicate, hint, insinuate, imply, allude, demonstrate, infer, refer, point, attest, denote, connote, display, manifest
2. Recommend
recommend, bring to mind, prompt, evoke, bring around, bring back, move dated
3. Propose — to explicitly mention (something) as a possibility for consideration, often to recommend it
Definitions
- v. 1
To imply but stop short of explicitly stating (something).
Are you suggesting that I killed my wife?
- v. 2
To explicitly mention (something) as a possibility for consideration, often to recommend it.
This meeting venue was suggested to us by our boss.
- v. 3
To cause one to suppose (something); to bring to one's mind the idea (of something).
The name "hamburger" suggests that hamburgers originated from Hamburg.
Related words
- Word family
- suggestful suggestible suggestion suggestive
Forms
- Past participle
- suggested
e.g. suggested → indicated, hinted, insinuated, implied…
Choose the right word
One may indicate his wishes, intimate his plans, imply his opinion, signify his will, suggest a course of action.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- indicate Indicate size, color, and style on the order form.
- hint Tom gets angry at the slightest hint of criticism.
- imply A good education doesn't imply a good upbringing.
- insinuate How dare you insinuate that I was lying!
- recommend Can you recommend to me a place to stay in London?
By length
- 4 letters
- move1, hint1, moot1
- 5 letters
- point1, refer2, float1, imply2, evoke2, infer2
- 6 letters
- submit2, advise2, hazard2, prompt1, denote2, attest2, brooch1, allude2
- 7 letters
- display2, venture2, propose2, connote2
- 8 letters
- indicate3, intimate3, manifest3
- 9 letters
- recommend3, insinuate4
- 11 letters
- demonstrate3
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (refer2 = 2 syllables).