Suspecting

Suspecting involves holding an idea or belief to be possible, but not yet proven, often with some degree of doubt or uncertainty. It indicates a tentative judgment, conjecture, or feeling that something might be true or that someone might have done something. It can range from a mild hunch to a strong inclination, often based on indirect evidence, observation, or intuition. suspecting can lead to further investigation, scrutiny, or the formation of a more definitive opinion. It highlights an active mental process of questioning, evaluating, and considering alternative possibilities, and often exists as a precursor to more conclusive knowledge. The degree of certainty or proof is often low, and the belief can be either positive or negative. The word captures the uncertainty of not knowing the full truth of a subject and not making a definite conclusion, but still holding a notion in the back of the mind.

Suspecting meaning with examples

• The detective was already suspecting foul play when the victim's alibi quickly fell apart. He began scrutinizing the evidence, looking for inconsistencies that could prove that the victim was the perpetrator. He questioned all of the involved parties. Every piece of information he gathered built on his suspicions and pointed to a possible conspiracy.
• After witnessing the sudden change in his coworker's behavior and a suspicious phone call, Sarah started suspecting something was wrong with the deal. She confided in a trusted friend and they decided to discreetly investigate. Sarah's suspicions intensified, confirming there was something her coworker wasn't telling her.
• Based on the financial records, the auditors started suspecting some mismanagement. They began performing a thorough review of expenditures. They carefully analyzed a variety of financial records, including invoices and bank statements. The longer their review continued, the greater their suspicions became that something illegal was happening.
• Reading the coded message, the cryptographer was initially suspecting a simple substitution cipher, but his experience helped him. After a couple of attempts he was able to unlock a more complex encryption pattern. He now realized he needed to decode a much larger, far more sophisticated series of symbols. This prompted him to change his entire approach.
• During the game, after the player repeatedly missed shots, the coach began suspecting an injury. She signaled for a time-out to bring in the medical team to give the player a checkup. She was uncertain, but she wanted to make sure the player was healthy and safe. Her uncertainty made the coach very concerned about the possibility of an injury.