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

Hundreds of 2,500 voter registration forms flagged as suspicious were found to be fraudulent, an official from Pennsylvania's Lancaster County confirmed on Monday. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Her death, though currently under investigation, is not thought to be suspicious. —News Desk, Artforum, 5 Nov. 2024

Some Middle Eastern traffickers whose shipments might seem suspicious to Saudi or Gulf authorities launder the provenance of the freight by moving it through Europe first. —Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

Ullyot said the Republican National Committee has deployed an army of poll watchers around the country to assist in contesting any results Trump’s team views as suspicious. —Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 4 Nov. 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