suspicious

USAGE SUMMARY

'suspicious' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use 'suspicious' when you want to describe someone or something that makes you think that something wrong or illegal is happening. Example sentence: The police questioned the suspicious stranger lurking in the alley.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The death is not being treated as suspicious".

The Guardian

There are no suspicious circumstances and our report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal".

The Guardian

We have become suspicious: of their mawkish advertising, of their treatment of farmers, of their desperate bids to package up things that really don't need packaging up at all (I mean this literally and metaphorically, versions of "restaurant-style" dishes being every bit as phoney and wasteful as apples wrapped in too much plastic).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

iPhone / iPad TouchTone (£2.29) Get your NSA on with this stylish security-themed game, where you have to decrypt suspicious messages to "help make our nation safer and stronger!" The satirical intent is clear, but this is also an engrossing puzzler.

The Guardian - Tech

But he or she also has a conservative or communitarian side: most people are suspicious of change, want to live in stable communities, think people should take responsibility for themselves (and think today's welfare system discourages them from doing so), want to live in relatively traditional families and, without being flag-waving nationalists, think that national citizen preference matters.

The Guardian - Opinion

In 2006, the six imams, all of Middle Eastern descent, were accused of suspicious behaviour after they prayed before their flight and one imam requested a longer seatbelt on account of his obesity.

The Guardian - Opinion

It would have also revealed that Khan was in the US to film his new movie, My Name is Khan, which is ironically about a Muslim man with Asperger's falsely detained after 9/11 due to his "suspicious behaviour".

The Guardian - Opinion

"In particular, we want to speak to anyone who noticed anything suspicious in the vicinity of Andrews Court, Rickards Street, where the body was found, and also to anyone who may have seen something suspicious near the rugby ground on Sardis Road in the past couple of days.

The Guardian

"The Russian information on Ukraine is coming from suspicious websites like Russian Spring, and you can say this is propaganda," Fedchenko said.

The Guardian

One nuclear lobbyist admitted it spread messages "via third-party opinion because the public would be suspicious if we started ramming pro-nuclear messages down their throats".

The Guardian

The actor, who is to star opposite the US comedian Tina Fey in the film Admission, added that he is also suspicious of commercial stage schools.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "suspicious" to signal a need for further investigation, indicating that something warrants closer scrutiny or verification.

Common error

Avoid labeling something as "suspicious" without providing a clear rationale. Overusing the term can create unnecessary alarm or distrust without sufficient evidence. Always offer context or specific details to support your assessment.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "suspicious" functions primarily to attribute a quality of doubt or mistrust to a person, object, or situation. Ludwig examples showcase its use in various contexts, all indicating something that warrants further scrutiny.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "suspicious" is a very common and grammatically correct term used to describe something that raises doubt or mistrust. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used in various contexts, primarily in news and media. When using "suspicious", it's important to provide context to justify the assessment and avoid unfounded accusations. Alternatives include "questionable", "doubtful", and "dubious", each carrying slightly different nuances. Remember that overuse without justification can diminish the impact of the term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mistrustful

Lacking trust and inclined to suspect others.

wary

Cautious and alert to potential danger or deception.

leery

Similar to wary, but often implies a sense of unease.

questionable

Implies doubt about the validity or honesty of something.

untrusting

Having a general disposition not to trust others.

doubtful

Expresses uncertainty or disbelief.

skeptical

Having doubts and questioning claims.

dubious

Suggests uncertainty and potential dishonesty.

fishy

Informal term suggesting something is not right or honest.

shady

Suggests something is secretive and potentially illegal.

FAQs

How can I use "suspicious" in a sentence?

You can use "suspicious" to describe something that seems questionable or untrustworthy. For example, "The police found a "suspicious package" near the building" or "His alibi seemed "suspicious"."

What are some alternatives to the word "suspicious"?

Some alternatives to "suspicious" include "questionable", "doubtful", "dubious", and "fishy". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "suspect" or "suspicious"?

"Suspect" can be a noun or a verb, referring to someone who is believed to be involved in a crime or to have doubts about something. "Suspicious" is an adjective that describes something that causes doubt or mistrust. For example, "He is a suspect" (noun), "I suspect his motives" (verb), and "His behavior was suspicious" (adjective).

What does it mean when something is described as "suspicious circumstances"?

"Suspicious circumstances" refer to a situation where the details or context are unusual or raise concerns about potential wrongdoing or danger. For example, "The body was found in "suspicious circumstances", prompting a police investigation."