unsuspecting

adjective

un·​sus·​pect·​ing ˌən-sə-ˈspek-tiŋ 

: unaware of any danger or threat : not suspecting

unsuspecting victims

unsuspectingly adverb

Synonyms

• aw-shucks
• dewy
• dewy-eyed
• green
• ingenuous
• innocent
• naïf
• naif
• naive
• naïve
• primitive
• simple
• simpleminded
• uncritical
• unknowing
• unsophisticated
• unsuspicious
• unwary
• unworldly
• wide-eyed

Examples of unsuspecting in a Sentence

sidewalk vendors selling bogus gems to unsuspecting tourists

Recent Examples on the Web

In a March incident, a Riverside man was arrested on suspicion of pulling over unsuspecting drivers. —Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025

Once the unsuspecting user calls the number, the scammers will pose as the brand to try and get the victim to hand over personal data or card details, or even enable remote access to their computer. —Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 21 June 2025

At the same time, scammers have gotten smarter about stealing personal information from unsuspecting users. —Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

Three of McConnell’s five steals came via what’s become his signature play — lurking in the backcourt and taking advantage of unsuspecting and/or lazy inbounds passes for turnovers. —Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 12 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unsuspecting

• disconnecting
• disinfecting
• interjecting
• intersecting
• recollecting
• reconnecting
• redirecting
• resurrecting
• unreflecting
• affecting
• bisecting
• collecting