Suspicious

Practice This Word

Doubtful or skeptical about someone’s honesty or motives; inclined to mistrust.

adjective

Suspicious

Doubtful or skeptical about someone’s honesty or motives; inclined to mistrust.

adjective

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Imagine This

Imagine a neighbor offering a 'too good to be true' repair deal. Their smile doesn't reach their eyes, and they keep changing the story. You instinctively tighten your stance and question their motives.

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Sounds Like

suh-SPISH-uhs

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Looks Like

suspicion, suspect, suspiciously

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Remember This

Suspicious is the adjective form related to suspect and suspicion; its root implies looking at something with doubt or wariness.

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Other Forms

suspicionnoun

suspiciouslyadverb

suspiciousnessnoun

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Connect With

distrust, skepticism, wary, cautious, suspect

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Note

Use 'suspicious of' or 'suspicious about' when you doubt someone's honesty or motives. Do not confuse with 'suspense' (the feeling of anticipation) or 'suspicious-looking' when describing something that merely seems unusual without implying deceit.

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Study Deeper

Examples

The detective found the suspect's alibi suspicious.
The sudden cancellation of the meeting without explanation seemed suspicious to the manager.

Synonyms

doubtfulmistrustfulskepticaldubiouswary

Antonyms

trustingcredulousnaive

Etymology

From Latin suspectus, past participle of suspicere 'to look at with doubt'; from sub- 'under' + specere 'to look'.

Mnemonic

SUS-PIC-IOUS: Think 'suspect' + 'pic' (picture) + 'ous' (full of) — full of doubting or doubting-looking; you are 'suspicious' when you feel there’s something off.

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