sneaking suspicion

Meaning

1. 1nouncountable

   A slight but persistent feeling that something is true, even though you have no proof and may not want to believe it.

   Grammar: Used with a: I have a sneaking suspicion that she lied.

   Patterns

   • have a sneaking suspicion that
   • a sneaking suspicion about someone

   I have a sneaking suspicion that he forgot my birthday again.

   She had a sneaking suspicion that the test would be harder than expected.

   He had a sneaking suspicion that the quiet kids knew more than they let on.

Word forms

Common combinations

have a sneaking suspicion

I have a sneaking suspicion we are lost.

a sneaking suspicion that

A sneaking suspicion that something was wrong kept her awake.

confirm a sneaking suspicion

His smile confirmed her sneaking suspicion.

harbor a sneaking suspicion

Many fans harbor a sneaking suspicion that the match was unfair.

Synonyms and how they differ

hunch

A hunch is more intuitive and can be about the future, while a sneaking suspicion is usually negative.

inkling

An inkling is a vague idea and need not feel doubtful or negative.

hint of suspicion

Hint of suspicion is milder and less settled than a sneaking suspicion.

misgiving

A misgiving is a feeling of doubt about something planned, not a belief about a fact.

Opposites

Word family

suspicion noun

a feeling that something is wrong

suspect verb

to think something is true

suspicious adjective

feeling or causing doubt

sneak verb

to move quietly

Commonly confused: sneaking suspicion or sneaky suspicion?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “sneaking suspicion”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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