suspicious

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparable

   Feeling that someone cannot be trusted or that something is wrong.

   Grammar: Used after linking verbs like be, feel, become: I am suspicious.

   Patterns

   • suspicious of someone
   • suspicious about something

   She was suspicious of his sudden friendliness.

   I felt suspicious about the offer.

   They became suspicious when he refused to answer.

2. 2adjectivenot comparable

   Causing a feeling that something is wrong or dishonest.

   Grammar: Used before nouns: a suspicious package.

   Patterns

   • a suspicious person
   • a suspicious package

   The police were called about a suspicious package.

   There was a suspicious smell coming from the kitchen.

   His suspicious behavior made everyone uneasy.

Word forms

Common combinations

suspicious of

She is suspicious of strangers.

suspicious about

I'm suspicious about his motives.

suspicious behavior

The guard noticed suspicious behavior.

suspicious package

They evacuated the building because of a suspicious package.

suspicious mind

He has a suspicious mind and questions everything.

Synonyms and how they differ

distrustful

Similar but focuses more on a general lack of trust; suspicious can also describe a thing that causes distrust.

doubtful

Means uncertain or questionable; suspicious implies a stronger feeling that something is wrong.

wary

Means cautious about possible danger; suspicious emphasizes belief in dishonesty or wrongdoing.

Opposites

Word family

suspicion noun

A feeling that something is wrong.

suspiciously adverb

In a way that shows suspicion.

suspect verb

To believe someone is guilty.

Commonly confused: suspicious or suspect?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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