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Preposition after adjective

suggestive of, for, in, about or rather?

Suggestive is most commonly followed by of when something indicates or hints at another thing.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows suggestive?

Use suggestive of to mean indicating, hinting at, or reminiscent of something. Suggestive about and suggestive in can occur in wider sentence structures. Suggestive for is uncommon as a direct complement. Rather is not a preposition and belongs to expressions such as rather suggestive.

His tone was suggestive of sarcasm.
The symptoms are suggestive of infection.
She became suggestive about the subject after dinner.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
suggestive of + idea or condition

Indicating or hinting at something

Use of for evidence, impressions, or associations.

The evidence is suggestive of fraud.
Her smile was suggestive of approval.
2
suggestive about + topic

Using suggestive language about something

About introduces the topic being discussed in a suggestive way.

He made suggestive remarks about his colleague.
They became suggestive about future plans.
3
suggestive in + context

Being suggestive within a setting

In may introduce the context where something appears suggestive.

The advertisement was suggestive in tone.
Her gestures were suggestive in certain scenes.
4
rather suggestive

Using rather as an adverb

Rather modifies the adjective suggestive. It is not a competing preposition.

The joke was rather suggestive for television.
His comments sounded rather suggestive to the audience.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
suggestive of
The pattern is suggestive of deliberate planning.
Standard pattern meaning indicating or hinting at something.
suggestive for
The phrase was suggestive for younger readers.
For usually introduces audience or effect, not the main adjective complement.
suggestive in
The film is suggestive in parts.
In introduces the context or area where the quality appears.
suggestive about
He was suggestive about their relationship.
About introduces the topic discussed suggestively.
rather suggestive
The dialogue was rather suggestive.
Rather is an adverb modifying suggestive.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using for as the main complement

Suggestive normally takes of when meaning indicating or hinting at.

✕ The evidence is suggestive for corruption. ✓ The evidence is suggestive of corruption.

Treating rather as a preposition

Rather is an adverb placed before the adjective.

✕ The joke was suggestive rather adults. ✓ The joke was rather suggestive for adults.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The symptoms are suggestive ___ food poisoning.
2. He made suggestive comments ___ his neighbour.
3. The dialogue was rather suggestive ___ younger viewers.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the standard preposition after suggestive?

The standard pattern is suggestive of.

Can suggestive be followed by about?

Yes. About introduces the topic being discussed suggestively.

Is rather a preposition in rather suggestive?

No. Rather is an adverb modifying the adjective suggestive.

sacred-to-in-by-of, for "sad for" or "sad about"? "safe for", "safe from" or "safe in"? sanguine about, in, of, on or for? "satisfactory to" or "satisfactory for"? satisfied with, of, by, in or on? "satisfying for" or "satisfying to"? scarce in, for, at, on or of? scared of, to, about, for or by? "scary for" or "scary to"? "scathing about", "scathing in" or "scathing of"? "sceptical about" or "sceptical of"?

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