faint suspicion

USAGE SUMMARY

'faint suspicion' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used when one has an inkling or feeling that something is wrong but does not have evidence to confirm it. For example: "He had a faint suspicion that something was not right."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

You have the faint suspicion that Krystal is that curmudgeon, and yet not.

The New York Times - Books

Just as we only have Catherine's word that Tommy brutalised Becky, the faint suspicion that Catherine did kill Lynn is left to linger.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Mr Snowden may have the faint suspicion that his rights would not be protected – given that a prosecution under the Espionage Act would leave him no way to mount a public interest defense if he came back to stand trial.

The Guardian - Opinion

Reading, in his publicity material, that he "has been described as a meeting of Billy Graham and David Copperfield via Donald Rumsfeld", I have a faint suspicion that Allen wrote the line, just as he has invented a fake back story for Tommy Angel, including a lapsed Italian catholic upbringing and a fundamentalist stepmother from Utah.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But, said Interior Minister Loschnak, there is not "the faintest suspicion" to justify a move against the police in general.

The New York Times

"I would not defend him if I had even a faint thread of suspicion, because this is about the reputation of a movement," he said, referring to Mr. Sadr's movement.

The New York Times

With the Afghan endgame looming, suspicion is overwhelming faint cooperation between the United States and Pakistan, as each side seeks to secure its interests, increase its leverage to obtain them, and even cut out the other if need be, American and Pakistani officials say.

The New York Times

At any time over the last two years, you've always been able to hear the faint jangling of Brexiteer nerves, a suspicion that the prime minister doesn't really believe in leaving the EU.

BBC

This very zealous and able detective had to report again and again that he had not found the faintest clue for my suspicions.

Yale University

There is a sneaking suspicion that the club may be moving away from their original guiding principles and showing the faintest signs of becoming the type of club that they were set up to oppose originally, as Burke explains.

The Guardian - Sport

I faint.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "faint suspicion" to express a preliminary or tentative feeling; it suggests a lack of concrete evidence and a degree of uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "faint suspicion" as a confirmed fact. The term implies a degree of uncertainty, so using strong declarative language can undermine its intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "faint suspicion" primarily functions as a noun phrase, acting as the object or subject in a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms that it describes a feeling or idea with a degree of uncertainty.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "faint suspicion" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to express a tentative or preliminary feeling of doubt or mistrust. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is usable in written English and generally appropriate for neutral and professional contexts, though primarily found in news and media. When using this phrase, it's important to avoid overstating the suspicion as fact, as the term inherently implies uncertainty. Alternatives such as "slight misgiving" or "vague doubt" can offer similar nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight misgiving

This alternative uses "misgiving" to replace "suspicion", emphasizing a feeling of apprehension or doubt, and "slight" to describe its intensity.

vague doubt

This phrase substitutes "suspicion" with "doubt", focusing on the uncertainty, and uses "vague" to indicate its lack of clarity.

nagging feeling

This alternative replaces "suspicion" with "feeling", highlighting the intuitive aspect, and uses "nagging" to suggest its persistence.

lingering concern

Here, "concern" replaces "suspicion", emphasizing worry, and "lingering" indicates it remains present.

growing unease

This phrase uses "unease" instead of "suspicion", focusing on discomfort, and "growing" suggests it is intensifying.

mild apprehension

Replaces "suspicion" with "apprehension", emphasizing anxiety, and uses "mild" to indicate its low intensity.

subtle mistrust

Substitutes "suspicion" with "mistrust", directly indicating a lack of trust, and "subtle" describes its understated nature.

passing reservation

This alternative uses "reservation" instead of "suspicion", highlighting a reason for hesitation, and "passing" suggests it is fleeting.

soft uncertainty

Replaces "suspicion" with "uncertainty", focusing on the lack of sureness, and uses "soft" to describe its gentle presence.

slightest qualm

This phrase substitutes "suspicion" with "qualm", emphasizing a feeling of unease or doubt, and uses "slightest" to describe its minimal intensity.

FAQs

How can I use "faint suspicion" in a sentence?

You can use "faint suspicion" to express a slight feeling that something might be wrong, as in "He had a faint suspicion that he was being followed".

What's a good alternative to "faint suspicion"?

Alternatives include phrases like "slight misgiving", "vague doubt", or "nagging feeling", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "faint suspicion" in formal writing?

Yes, "faint suspicion" is appropriate for formal writing. It is a nuanced way to express doubt without making definitive accusations.

How does "faint suspicion" differ from "strong suspicion"?

"Faint suspicion" implies a weak or tentative feeling based on limited evidence, while "strong suspicion" indicates a more substantial belief, often supported by more compelling evidence.