suspicion

1 of 2

noun

sus·​pi·​cion sə-ˈspi-shən 

1

a

: the act or an instance of suspecting something wrong without proof or on slight evidence : mistrust

b

: a state of mental uneasiness and uncertainty : doubt

2

: a barely detectable amount : trace

just a suspicion of garlic

suspicion

2 of 2

verb

suspicioned; suspicioning sə-ˈspi-sh(ə-)niŋ 

transitive verb

chiefly dialectal

: suspect

Synonyms

Noun

• distrust
• distrustfulness
• doubt
• dubiety
• dubitation [archaic]
• incertitude
• misdoubt
• misgiving
• mistrust
• mistrustfulness
• query
• reservation
• skepticism
• uncertainty

Verb

• assume
• conjecture
• daresay
• guess
• imagine
• presume
• speculate
• suppose
• surmise
• suspect

Choose the Right Synonym for suspicion

uncertainty, doubt, dubiety, skepticism, suspicion, mistrust mean lack of sureness about someone or something.

uncertainty may range from a falling short of certainty to an almost complete lack of conviction or knowledge especially about an outcome or result.

assumed the role of manager without hesitation or uncertainty

doubt suggests both uncertainty and inability to make a decision.

plagued by doubts as to what to do

dubiety stresses a wavering between conclusions.

felt some dubiety about its practicality

skepticism implies unwillingness to believe without conclusive evidence.

an economic forecast greeted with skepticism

suspicion stresses lack of faith in the truth, reality, fairness, or reliability of something or someone.

regarded the stranger with suspicion

mistrust implies a genuine doubt based upon suspicion.

had a great mistrust of doctors

Examples of suspicion in a Sentence

Noun

There has long been a suspicion that the painting is a fake.

I thought the water might be making us sick, and my suspicions were confirmed by the lab tests.

The note aroused her suspicions that he was having an affair.

I have a sneaking suspicion that those cookies aren't really homemade.

The new policies are regarded by many with suspicion.

His story has raised some suspicion.

I have my suspicions about his motives.

Verb

no one will ever suspicion that I'm the one who pulled the prank

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Lawmakers have suspicions about the video-sharing app's ties to China and have tried to regulate it, though prior efforts to widely restrict it have been unsuccessful. —Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2024

America Is Using Up Its Groundwater Like There’s No Tomorrow Still, Democrats face suspicion in places like La Paz County, a patchwork of emerald-colored farm valleys and scorched mountain ranges whose mild winters draw retirees in RV’s and van-life vagabonds. —Jack Healy, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024

Any suspicion is enough to report Physicians are mandated to report suspicions of child abuse. —Sarah Klein, TIME, 18 Apr. 2024

Already with a reputation as a player who likes to party, Sweat was arrested on Sunday on a charge of suspicion of driving while intoxicated, per the Travis County (Texas) Sherriff’s office. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024

Urías was suspended 20 games in 2019 after being arrested — but not charged — on misdemeanor suspicion of domestic violence. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024

Take Debbie Pridmore, for example, who shared her suspicions with NPR last month after casting a ballot for Trump in the North Carolina Republican primary. —Tamara Keith, NPR, 7 Apr. 2024

When Kelly is attacked during an outdoor rave, both groups of teens, along with their parents, give equal cause for suspicion. —John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024

For years, park-goers have aired suspicions online about the program being abused. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English suspecioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin suspicion-, suspicio, from suspicere to suspect — more at suspect

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1637, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing suspicion

• above/beyond suspicion
• on suspicion of
• the finger of blame/suspicion
• under a cloud of suspicion
• under suspicion

Kids Definition

suspicion

1 of 2 noun

sus·​pi·​cion sə-ˈspish-ən 

1

: the act or an instance of suspecting or being suspected

2

: a feeling that something is wrong without definite evidence

3

: a small amount

suspicion

2 of 2 verb

suspicioned; suspicioning -ˈspish-(ə-)niŋ 

chiefly substandard

: suspect entry 3

Legal Definition

suspicion

noun

sus·​pi·​cion

: the act or an instance of suspecting something : a mental state usually short of belief in which one entertains a notion that something is wrong or that a fact exists without proof or on slight evidence see also reasonable suspicion

suspicionless adjective