it was suspicious

USAGE SUMMARY

"It was suspicious" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to something that seems strange or out of the ordinary. For example: When I arrived home, I noticed that the door lock had been tampered with. It was suspicious.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

What it portrayed as a defensive naval build-up appeared aggressive to other countries, and it was suspicious of its international rivals.

The Economist

Police tried to stop the van, believing it was suspicious.

The Guardian

"But a few of you say it was suspicious".

The New York Times - Sports

DR. STAHMER: The Prosecution further alleges and claims that it was suspicious that shots were often fired in the forest.

Yale University

He thought it was suspicious that Stuart's girlfriend did not know where they were going.

The Washington Post

It was suspicious, but they needed more to make the case.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

So it's suspicious".

Independent

It is suspicious of answers.

The New York Times

You might say it is suspicious.

The Guardian - Tech

"Can you see why it's suspicious?" Dornstein said.

The New Yorker

But it is suspicious of Cameron, and is right to be suspicious.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was suspicious" to express a feeling of unease or doubt based on observations or information. Ensure the context clearly explains what caused the suspicion.

Common error

Avoid using "it was suspicious" without providing specific reasons or context. Ensure the sentence includes details that support why something seemed suspicious to avoid vagueness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was suspicious" functions as a subjective assessment, expressing a feeling or opinion that something seemed doubtful or untrustworthy. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a valid and commonly used expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

19%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was suspicious" serves to express a feeling of doubt or unease regarding a particular situation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. Its versatility allows it to fit into various contexts, primarily within news and academic writing, conveying doubt or concern. When employing this phrase, ensure to provide context to clarify what triggered the suspicion. While numerous alternatives exist, such as "it seemed questionable" or "it aroused suspicion", each carries subtle nuances that might be more appropriate depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it aroused suspicion

Replaces "was suspicious" with "aroused suspicion", emphasizing the act of creating suspicion.

it was dubious

Replaces "suspicious" with "dubious", conveying uncertainty or doubt about the honesty or validity of something.

it seemed questionable

Changes the verb to "seemed" and replaces "suspicious" with "questionable", focusing on the appearance of doubt.

it appeared doubtful

Uses "appeared" instead of "was" and "doubtful" in place of "suspicious", suggesting a lack of certainty based on observation.

it raised doubts

Shifts the focus to the action of raising doubts rather than a state of being, using a different verb and noun.

it seemed untrustworthy

Uses "seemed" to express an impression and "untrustworthy" to describe the unreliable nature of something.

it felt fishy

Employs the informal idiom "fishy" to convey a sense of unease or suspicion.

it looked strange

Substitutes "suspicious" with "strange", indicating something unusual or odd was observed.

it gave cause for concern

Indicates that something provided a reason to be worried or concerned, rather than directly stating suspicion.

red flags were raised

Uses an idiomatic expression indicating a warning or suspicion.

FAQs

How can I use "it was suspicious" in a sentence?

Use "it was suspicious" to express a feeling or impression that something seemed strange, doubtful, or potentially wrong. For instance, "It was suspicious that he arrived late without any explanation".

What are some alternatives to "it was suspicious"?

You can use alternatives like "it seemed questionable", "it appeared doubtful", or "it aroused suspicion" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "it was suspicious" formal or informal?

"It was suspicious" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives might be preferred in highly professional writing.

What does it mean when something "aroused suspicion" instead of saying "it was suspicious"?

"Aroused suspicion" emphasizes the action of creating a feeling of suspicion in someone, whereas "it was suspicious" describes a state of feeling suspicious. They are similar but focus on different aspects of the situation.