Suspect vs You shouldn't trust that woman

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Suspect

Top 2,000 (common)B2verb

You shouldn't trust that woman

Top 2,000 (common)
 SuspectYou shouldn't trust that woman
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/səˈspekt/","/səˈspekts/","/səˈspektɪd/","/səˈspektɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/səˈspekt/","/səˈspekts/","/səˈspektɪd/","/səˈspektɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //juː ˈʃʊdnt trʌst ðæt ˈwʊmən//🇺🇸 //juː ˈʃʊdənt trʌst ðæt ˈwʊmən//
Meaningto think someone might be guilty or badDon't believe that woman.
ExampleThe detective began to suspect that the alibi was fabricated.You shouldn't trust that woman; she has a history of deceit.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsstrongly, rather, rightly, begin to, have reason to, have reasons to, be widely suspected, rightly, wrongly, of, have grounds for suspecting somebody/​something, have grounds to suspect somebody/​something, have reason to suspect somebody/​somethingtrust someone, distrust someone, trust issues
Antonymstrust, believe, assure-
Common mistakesConfused with 'suspected' - remember to use 'suspect' for present tense., Using 'suspect' without an object - always have something or someone you suspect., Mispronouncing it as 'suspect' like the noun form, when it is used as a verb.Using 'shouldn't' in past contexts, e.g., 'You shouldn't trusted.', Confusing 'trust' with 'believe,' leading to awkward sentences., Neglecting to specify the subject, e.g., 'You shouldn't trust.'
Usage notesUsed when you have a feeling that someone is responsible for something negative. Not typically used for casual conversation unless referring to criminals. In formal contexts, it may require clarification.Used to advise someone not to place confidence in a specific person. Appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but may imply suspicion.

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Suspect
You shouldn't trust that woman

Frequently asked questions: Suspect vs You shouldn't trust that woman

What's the difference between Suspect and You shouldn't trust that woman?

Suspect: to think someone might be guilty or bad You shouldn't trust that woman: Don't believe that woman.

Can you show an example of each?

Suspect: The detective began to suspect that the alibi was fabricated. You shouldn't trust that woman: You shouldn't trust that woman; she has a history of deceit.

Can I use Suspect and You shouldn't trust that woman interchangeably?

Not always. Suspect and You shouldn't trust that woman are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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