made me suspect

USAGE SUMMARY

"made me suspect" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to express the feeling of suspicion that is brought on by a certain event or circumstance. For example, "His shifty eyes and sudden change in behavior made me suspect that he was up to something."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Food

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

My lack of hostility made me suspect.

The New York Times - Magazine

"That experience made me suspect that a lot of modern art is malarkey," Geisel says.

The New Yorker

His enthusiasm made me suspect that there might be more to his offer than just compassion.

The New York Times - Health

The violence of the blows almost made me suspect as much.

The Guardian

Painful attempts to draw blood made me suspect that the needles were dull and had been reused.

The New York Times

Shrimp and scallops -- again, their texture made me suspect they'd been thawed -- sat atop a pile of "risotto".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

What should make me suspect a piece of mail?

The New York Times

"The provenance of the movie makes me suspect it will not be fair," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

The engine's clattering idle was loud enough to make me suspect a diesel under the hood.

The New York Times

The chapter about how much he loves his father is making me suspect he hates his father.

The Guardian - Books

In his column, the bishop said he may seem like a Boston import, "which makes me suspect automatically".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add depth to your writing, follow up the phrase with a 'that' clause to specify what you began to suspect, e.g. 'The fact he avoided eye contact made me suspect that he was hiding something.'

Common error

While grammatically correct, "made me suspect" can sometimes sound less formal than alternatives like "led me to believe" or "aroused my suspicion". Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing before using it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made me suspect" functions as a verb phrase indicating the speaker's reaction to an event that caused them to develop a feeling of suspicion. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a correct phrase, supported by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "made me suspect" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe the onset of suspicion. Ludwig AI confirms the validity and common usage of this phrase. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it conveys a sense of doubt triggered by specific events or observations. While "made me suspect" is suitable for many situations, writers should consider the formality of their writing and whether more sophisticated alternatives might be preferable in certain contexts. By understanding the subtle nuances and potential stylistic limitations, writers can effectively use "made me suspect" to communicate their perspectives and interpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aroused my suspicion

Focuses more directly on the act of causing suspicion.

led me to believe

Indicates a shift in belief based on emerging evidence.

caused me to wonder

Emphasizes the element of questioning and contemplation.

prompted my doubts

Highlights the generation of doubts or uncertainties.

gave me pause

Suggests a moment of hesitation and reconsideration.

made me think twice

Implies a need to re-evaluate a previous assumption.

instilled a sense of unease

Focuses on the feeling of discomfort or anxiety.

raised a red flag

Uses an idiomatic expression to signal a warning sign.

seemed fishy to me

Employs a colloquial term for something being questionable.

struck me as odd

Indicates a sense of peculiarity or strangeness.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "made me suspect" to sound more formal?

You can use more formal alternatives like "led me to believe", "aroused my suspicion", or "prompted my doubts" to convey a similar meaning with increased formality.

Is "made me suspect" grammatically correct?

Yes, "made me suspect" is grammatically correct. It follows standard English sentence structure with a subject, verb, and object complement.

What's the difference between "made me suspect" and "made me wonder"?

"Made me suspect" indicates a stronger feeling of distrust or doubt, whereas "made me wonder" suggests curiosity or contemplation without necessarily implying suspicion.

How to use "made me suspect" in a sentence?

You can use "made me suspect" in a sentence to express that something caused you to have doubts or suspicions about something else. For example, "The strange phone call made me suspect that something was wrong".