suspicious

adjective

sus·​pi·​cious sə-ˈspi-shəs 

1

: tending to arouse suspicion : questionable

suspicious characters

2

: disposed to suspect : distrustful

suspicious of strangers

3

: expressing or indicative of suspicion

a suspicious glance

suspiciously adverb

suspiciousness noun

Synonyms

• debatable
• disputable
• dodgy [chiefly British]
• doubtable
• doubtful
• dubious
• dubitable
• equivocal
• fishy
• problematic
• problematical
• queer
• questionable
• shady
• shaky
• suspect

Examples of suspicious in a Sentence

We were instructed to report any suspicious activity in the neighborhood.

The suspicious vehicle was reported to police.

Suspicious characters were seen hanging around the bank.

He found a suspicious lump on his back and was afraid it might be cancer.

Officials are suspicious about her death.

His manner made me suspicious.

Recent Examples on the Web

Be sure to double-check the app’s log to confirm all suspicious activity has been addressed. —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 14 Dec. 2024

Alfred Dreyfus and the Affair that Divided France, the Jewish officer unjustly accused of treason after a cleaning-lady, who stole documents for the government, found a suspicious note in a waste-paper-basket in the German Embassy. —Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 13 Dec. 2024

The alleged operatives were neither highly trained nor seemed especially suspicious to the people who knew them in their day-to-day lives. —Zeena Saifi, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024

The tipster said that someone sent suspicious messages over social media asking about juvenile girls. —Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

suspicious

adjective

sus·​pi·​cious sə-ˈspish-əs 

1

: likely to arouse suspicion : questionable

suspicious behavior

2

: likely to suspect or distrust

suspicious of strangers

3

: showing suspicion

a suspicious glance

suspiciously adverb

suspiciousness noun