rouse suspicion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'rouse suspicion' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are suggesting someone has done something wrong and want to imply it, or arouse someone's suspicion. For example: "The accountant's strange movements around the safe have roused suspicion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

That might rouse suspicion.

Forbes

Requests for written consent could rouse suspicion or concern, and asking illiterate participants to sign documents they are unable to read or fully comprehend can be threatening [ 4] or imply lack of trust [ 23].

BMC Medical Ethics

Use this method sparingly as it may rouse suspicion if used often.

WikiHow

Different SIM cards will hold different information, including different lists of contacts, but will enable a person to continue using the same phone and thus will not rouse suspicion.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But procedures for the "international flights" were enough to rouse suspicions.

The Guardian

You'll be glad to know that it takes less than 30 minutes of my watching people and rotating the same box of Whiskers to rouse suspicions.

Vice

The problem is that any attempt to change the constitution rouses suspicion that it is the first step towards a slide back to dictatorship.The timing of the latest attempts has increased this suspicion.

The Economist

Just an ordinary computer guy, who worked in unusual offices that tapped into data from phone calls, emails, status updates and browsing histories of those who roused suspicion.

BBC

The two are just friends who can't share a meal together without rousing suspicion that they're romantically involved. .

Los Angeles Times

Unlike his first visit, mention of his recent arrival from Liberia immediately roused suspicion of an Ebola risk, records show.

HuffPost

Our initial attempt to sequence a few fosmid clones was hindered by an unusual high percentage of failure in sequencing reactions and by difficulties in assembling contigs, rousing suspicion that the shrimp genome is extraordinarily repetitive in nature.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rouse suspicion" to subtly suggest doubt or mistrust, rather than making direct accusations. The phrase is most effective when implying a negative action without explicitly stating it.

Common error

While "rouse suspicion" is acceptable, overuse in formal business writing can appear theatrical. Opt for more direct phrasing like "raise concerns" or "prompt questions" for a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rouse suspicion" functions as a verb phrase where "rouse" acts as a transitive verb taking "suspicion" as its direct object. According to Ludwig AI, it is a valid and usable phrase. Examples in Ludwig demonstrate its use in describing actions or situations that cause a feeling of mistrust or doubt.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rouse suspicion" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, effectively conveying the act of causing someone to become suspicious. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples of its use in various contexts. While phrases like "raise suspicion" or "trigger suspicion" offer similar meanings, "rouse suspicion" carries a slightly more formal tone. It's prevalent in news media and general writing but should be used judiciously in very formal contexts to avoid sounding overly dramatic. The key is to subtly suggest doubt rather than making direct accusations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trigger suspicion

Uses "trigger" instead of "rouse", implying a more immediate and direct causation of suspicion.

spark suspicion

Replaces "rouse" with "spark", suggesting a sudden and noticeable start of suspicion.

raise suspicion

Employs "raise" as a more common and straightforward alternative to "rouse".

awaken suspicion

Substitutes "rouse" with "awaken", giving a sense of dormant suspicion being brought to life.

create suspicion

Replaces "rouse" with "create", focusing on the act of producing suspicion.

foster suspicion

Suggests a gradual building or nurturing of suspicion, unlike the more immediate "rouse".

instill suspicion

Implies deliberately planting suspicion in someone's mind.

arouse distrust

Replaces "suspicion" with the stronger term "distrust", indicating a more significant level of doubt.

invite skepticism

Shifts the focus to eliciting doubt, rather than directly causing suspicion.

provoke doubt

Emphasizes the act of challenging belief or certainty, differing slightly from simply arousing suspicion.

FAQs

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

You can use "rouse suspicion" to indicate that someone's actions or behavior have caused others to become suspicious. For example, "His frequent late-night meetings began to "rouse suspicion" among his colleagues".

What are some alternatives to "rouse suspicion"?

Some alternatives to "rouse suspicion" include "trigger suspicion", "raise suspicion", or "spark suspicion". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "rouse suspicion" or "raise suspicion"?

"Rouse suspicion" and "raise suspicion" are both correct, but "raise suspicion" is more commonly used and might sound more natural in everyday conversation. "Rouse" can add a slightly more formal or literary tone.

What does it mean to "rouse" something?

To "rouse" means to awaken or stir up something, such as an emotion or feeling. In the context of "rouse suspicion", it means to cause suspicion to arise or become active.