suspicious
suh-SPIHSH-uhs
Suspicious (adj) means making people think something is wrong or dishonest. Example: “The shopkeeper noticed a suspicious man hanging around the back door.”
adj
1
Making people think something is wrong or dishonest.
"The shopkeeper noticed a suspicious man hanging around the back door."
"He acted suspicious when the police arrived."
"A suspicious package was found near the station."
2
Tending to distrust or doubt others.
"I'm suspicious of emails that ask me for my password."
"The old dog was suspicious of every visitor at the gate."
"She's always suspicious of strangers offering deals that sound too good."
How to use suspicious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither looking dodgy and untrustworthy, or being the kind of person who distrusts things easily.
Common pairings
suspicious activity
suspicious of
a suspicious package
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more suspicious
- Superlative
- most suspicious
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The shopkeeper noticed a _____ man hanging around the back door.
Etymology
From Old French sospecious, from Latin suspiciosus, related to suspicio, "suspicion."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for suspicious
See all rhymes for suspicious →Frequently asked questions
What does “suspicious” mean?
The word “suspicious” means making people think something is wrong or dishonest. In plain terms, either looking dodgy and untrustworthy, or being the kind of person who distrusts things easily.
How do you pronounce “suspicious”?
“Suspicious” is pronounced suh-SPIHSH-uhs (/səˈspɪʃ.əs/ in IPA).
How do you use “suspicious” in a sentence?
Here is “suspicious” used in a sentence: “He acted suspicious when the police arrived.”
What part of speech is “suspicious”?
“Suspicious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “suspicious” come from?
The word “suspicious” comes from Latin. From Old French sospecious, from Latin suspiciosus, related to suspicio, "suspicion.".
Is “suspicious” a common word?
“Suspicious” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “suspicious” have?
“Suspicious” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: making people think something is wrong or dishonest.
What is the difference between suspicious and suspect as adjectives?
Suspicious can describe either the person who feels distrust ("a suspicious neighbor") or the thing that causes it ("a suspicious package"). The adjective suspect only describes the thing being doubted, as in "a suspect claim," and sounds slightly more formal.
Is it "suspicious of" or "suspicious about"?
Both prepositions are correct. "Suspicious of" is the more common pattern, especially with people and their motives ("suspicious of strangers"), while "suspicious about" tends to introduce situations or circumstances ("something suspicious about the accounts").
What is the difference between suspicious and skeptical?
A skeptical person doubts claims and wants evidence before believing them, without necessarily assuming bad intent. A suspicious person tends to distrust others and senses that something is wrong or dishonest. Skepticism questions truth; suspicion suspects wrongdoing.
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