suspicion

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'suspicion' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating a feeling of distrust or doubt. Example sentence: He glanced at the stranger with suspicion.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Another example is the disproportionate suspicion given to and police targeting of black men in tracksuits, whereas their white counterparts are more likely to be seen as joggers.

The Guardian - Opinion

Lady Warsi, who resigned from the government in August over Gaza, delivered a blistering critique last month of the approach towards Britain's Muslims, warning that failure to engage properly with communities across the UK has created a climate of suspicion and undermined the fight against extremism.

The Guardian

"Today also, they look at us with suspicion.

The Guardian

The president of the Islamic Council of Victoria, Ghaith Krayem, told an anti-racism forum in Melbourne that the federal government's plans to allow the immigration minister to revoke the citizenship of dual nationals found to join or support terrorist groups "would make criminals of people based on suspicion and suspicion alone".

The Guardian

Suspicion is growing that the establishment, including 'securocrats' who want to be free to bug and tap without scrutiny, are intimidating journalists in the hope of evading public accountability.

The Guardian

Neil Small was arrested on suspicion of a previous domestic assault on his girlfriend, Magdalena Stapleton, 27, on the morning of the frenzied knife attack.

The Guardian

Privacy International said : "All internet and telephone communications, without meaningful limits, are being collected, stored and analysed by the security and intelligence services, regardless of any grounds for suspicion.

The Guardian

Serious questions have been raised about how the police handled the case after it emerged that Daynes was arrested on suspicion of rape and sexual assault three years before he attacked Breck, and that Breck's family warned police about Daynes before the murder.

The Guardian

In June 2014 Abdullah joined the anti-Islamic State international coalition to ward off increasing suspicion of Saudi sponsorship of radical jihadi groups in Syria.

The Guardian

I went to an all-boys comprehensive, a school where academic achievement was viewed with suspicion and where girls, with their civilising influence and nicer smells, were absent altogether.

The Guardian

A man has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting the Chesterfield captain Ian Evatt at the end of the League One play-off semi-final second leg at Preston on Sunday.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "suspicion" to denote a belief or feeling that something is wrong, without concrete proof. Reserve "accusation" for situations where a formal charge has been made.

Common error

Avoid presenting "suspicion" as established fact. Always acknowledge that suspicion is based on limited information and requires further investigation to confirm or deny.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "suspicion" is as a noun, referring to a feeling of doubt or mistrust regarding someone or something. Ludwig confirms this usage, providing numerous examples of "suspicion" used as a noun in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "suspicion" functions primarily as a noun to express doubt or mistrust. Ludwig AI indicates that its grammatical status is correct and its usage is very common across diverse contexts, particularly in news, formal settings, and scientific discussions. While synonyms like "mistrust" or "doubt" may be appropriate depending on the specific shade of meaning, "suspicion" effectively conveys a lack of certainty and prompts further scrutiny. When writing, it's important to clearly identify the object of the "suspicion" and avoid presenting it as a confirmed fact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mistrust

Focuses more on a lack of trust than simple doubt.

distrust

Similar to mistrust but can also imply active disbelief.

doubt

A general feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction.

misgiving

A feeling of doubt or worry about the outcome or consequences of something.

skepticism

Implies a questioning attitude and critical assessment.

apprehension

Suggests anxiety or fear about a possible future event.

hunch

An intuitive feeling or premonition, often without concrete evidence.

presentiment

A feeling that something is about to happen, often something unpleasant.

premonition

A strong feeling that something is about to happen, especially something unpleasant.

intuition

Immediate understanding or knowing without conscious reasoning.

FAQs

How to use "suspicion" in a sentence?

You can use "suspicion" to express a feeling of distrust or doubt. For example, "He regarded the stranger with suspicion" or "There was a growing suspicion that something was amiss".

What can I say instead of "suspicion"?

You can use alternatives like "mistrust", "distrust", or "doubt" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "suspicion" or "suspect"?

"Suspicion" is a noun referring to a feeling or belief, while "suspect" can be a noun (a person under suspicion) or a verb (to have suspicion). For example, "He had a suspicion" (noun) versus "He suspected foul play" (verb).

What's the difference between "suspicion" and "apprehension"?

"Suspicion" implies a feeling that something is wrong or dishonest, while "apprehension" suggests anxiety or fear about a future event. Suspicion focuses on potential wrongdoing, while apprehension focuses on potential harm or difficulty.