make us suspicious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make us suspicious" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing that something causes doubt or distrust in a situation or person. Example: "The inconsistencies in his story make us suspicious about his true intentions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

That urge to feel the cleansing power of confession, Professor Brooks says, "must make us suspicious of its use for other purposes: purposes that seek punishment rather than absolution, or, even, that claim that absolution and purification pass through punishment, rather than penance".

The New York Times

Does that make us suspicious?

The New York Times

If it is, is that something that should impress us or something that should make us suspicious?

The New York Times - Books

He wants to make us suspicious of such writing - to set us up for the kind of writing he's selling us now.

The Guardian - Books

Do you want every critic of religion to be put to death?", what should make us suspicious is the very self-evidence of the answer: who would want that?

The Guardian

However, when we are triumphantly asked a (purely rhetorical) question such as "Do you want women to be excluded from public life?" or "Do you want every critic of religion to be punished by death?", what should make us suspicious is the very self-evidence of the answer.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

It makes us suspicious and wary.

The New Yorker

"We read his stories and it made us suspicious," Mr. Kotevski said.

The New York Times

"But what makes us suspicious is why 20-, 25-, 30-year-olds are dying.

The Guardian

"We looked inside from the doorway and saw things that made us suspicious.

The New York Times

The war, in its recent extension and in the manner of that extension, has deepened all these divisions and crises, and has made us suspicious of our leaders and cynical about their ability to lead us and their willingness to hear us.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make us suspicious", ensure the subject clearly identifies what is causing the suspicion. For example: "His evasiveness should make us suspicious."

Common error

Avoid constructions that obscure the cause of suspicion. Instead of "Suspicion was made of us by his actions", say "His actions make us suspicious."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make us suspicious" functions as a verb phrase where "make" is the main verb and "suspicious" acts as an adjective describing the state being caused. Ludwig confirms this usage is correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make us suspicious" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to express that something causes doubt or mistrust. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is correct and suitable for use. While not extremely frequent, it appears in diverse sources like news outlets and scientific publications. To enhance clarity, ensure the subject causing the suspicion is clearly stated. Consider alternatives like "arouse our suspicion" to vary your language while maintaining the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arouse our suspicion

Replaces "make" with "arouse" and uses the noun form of "suspicious".

raise doubts in our minds

Focuses on the creation of doubt rather than suspicion.

cause us to doubt

Emphasizes the causing of doubt.

generate mistrust within us

Highlights the creation of mistrust.

lead us to be wary

Shifts the focus to the resulting wariness.

prompt our skepticism

Uses "skepticism" instead of "suspicion".

incline us to disbelieve

Focuses on the inclination to not believe.

foster a sense of distrust in us

Highlights the fostering of a sense of distrust.

give us cause for concern

Shifts focus to the generation of concern.

create grounds for our reservations

Emphasizes creating reasons for reservations.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "make us suspicious"?

You can use alternatives such as "arouse our suspicion", "raise doubts in our minds", or "cause us to doubt" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "make us suspicious" or "arouse our suspicion"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "arouse our suspicion" is often considered more formal and impactful, while "make us suspicious" is more direct and conversational. The best choice depends on the desired tone and context.

What does it mean when something "makes us suspicious"?

It means that something causes us to feel doubt, distrust, or a lack of confidence in someone or something. It suggests that there are reasons to question the truth, honesty, or reliability of the subject.

How to use "make us suspicious" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "The inconsistencies in his story should make us suspicious. " Or, "The company's sudden change in policy "makes us suspicious" of their motives."