trigger suspicion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trigger suspicion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing actions or behaviors that cause doubt or concern about someone's intentions or actions. Example: "His sudden change in behavior began to trigger suspicion among his colleagues."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

It thus remains unclear whether people actually do avoid major lies or rather shy away from large (unjustified) payoffs, e.g. since the latter are generally more likely to trigger suspicion.

Journal of Experimental Social Psychology

The finding of a spleen abscess in a melioidosis-endemic area should trigger suspicion of melioidosis.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Symptoms of tremor, tachycardia, nausea, diarrhea, and weight loss should trigger suspicion of this condition which resolves after drug discontinuation.

Cancer Management and Research

Despite treatment of DKA becoming more successful, standardized insulin infusion protocols do not trigger suspicion of other etiology.

Diabetes Care

While often overlooked, an absolute lymphocyte count of less than 3,000 c/mm should trigger suspicion of SCID.

Clinical Epidemiology

Here, the signs, symptoms, and surgical history that should trigger suspicion of MPS II are described, and the diagnostic process is reviewed with a focus on practical considerations and the avoidance of common diagnostic pitfalls.

European Journal of Pediatrics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Rumor has it that people carrying laptops have a greater chance of being pulled out of line; and one-way tickets always trigger suspicions, they say, as do travelers whose itineraries change several times in a short period.

The New York Times - Travel

Protracted discussions regarding the 'ownership' and management of the "Aboriginal beds" triggered suspicion within the staff and the management of the ACO who saw and reported experiencing the partnership as the redirection of limited Aboriginal organisational funds into mainstream services.

BMC Health Services Research

The sequence of events triggered suspicions.

The New York Times

By Tuesday morning, a story in the English-language version of the Communist Party newspaper Global Times said that "almost all online information" about the crash had been deleted overnight, "triggering suspicions as to the identity of the deceased driver".

The New York Times

Ms. Smith had announced earlier this week that she had planned to play a private show for residents on Thursday, triggering suspicions among them that she was performing at the behest of the new owner, the Chetrit Group, which is feuding with the tenants.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "trigger suspicion", ensure that the context clearly indicates what action or event is causing the suspicion. This helps to avoid ambiguity and strengthens the impact of your writing.

Common error

While "trigger suspicion" is grammatically sound, avoid using it excessively in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler phrases like "raise doubts" or "make people wonder" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

"Trigger suspicion" functions as a verb phrase where "trigger" acts as a transitive verb and "suspicion" is the direct object. The phrase denotes the act of initiating or causing a feeling of doubt or mistrust. Ludwig AI confirms the usage with examples where specific actions or events lead to suspicion.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

41%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "trigger suspicion" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes the act of causing doubt or mistrust. While not extremely common, it appears in a variety of contexts, particularly in science and news media. Ludwig AI's analysis indicates that the phrase serves to highlight a cause-and-effect relationship, where a specific event leads to a state of suspicion. It is best used when you want to clearly identify what is prompting someone's doubts, and in moderately formal writing. Simpler expressions may be more suited to casual conversation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arouse suspicion

Replaces "trigger" with "arouse", focusing on the act of awakening or stirring suspicion.

raise suspicion

Substitutes "trigger" with "raise", emphasizing the act of elevating or increasing suspicion.

prompt suspicion

Replaces "trigger" with "prompt", indicating that something instigates or encourages suspicion.

invite suspicion

Changes "trigger" to "invite", suggesting that actions make suspicion more likely or welcome it.

elicit suspicion

Replaces "trigger" with "elicit", highlighting the extraction or drawing out of suspicion.

generate suspicion

Substitutes "trigger" with "generate", focusing on the creation or production of suspicion.

foster suspicion

Changes "trigger" to "foster", emphasizing the nurturing or encouragement of suspicion over time.

create doubt

Shifts the focus to creating doubt, which is a closely related emotion to suspicion.

instill distrust

Emphasizes the planting or establishment of distrust, a stronger form of suspicion.

sow seeds of doubt

Uses a metaphor to describe the act of causing suspicion through subtle means.

FAQs

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

You can use "trigger suspicion" to describe actions or events that cause someone to become suspicious. For example, "His inconsistent alibi began to trigger suspicion among the detectives."

What are some alternatives to "trigger suspicion"?

Alternatives include "arouse suspicion", "raise suspicion", or "prompt suspicion", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

Both "trigger suspicion" and "raise suspicion" are correct. "Trigger" implies a direct cause, while "raise" suggests a gradual increase in suspicion. Choose the phrase that best fits the context.

What's the difference between "trigger suspicion" and "create doubt"?

"Trigger suspicion" implies a specific action causing someone to be suspicious, while "create doubt" refers more broadly to instilling uncertainty. Suspicion often involves a sense of mistrust, whereas doubt simply indicates a lack of certainty.