suspicion 1 of 2

1
2

suspicion

2 of 2

verb

chiefly dialect

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun suspicion differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of suspicion are doubt, dubiety, mistrust, skepticism, and uncertainty. While all these words mean "lack of sureness about someone or something," suspicion stresses lack of faith in the truth, reality, fairness, or reliability of something or someone.

regarded the stranger with suspicion

When would doubt be a good substitute for suspicion?

The words doubt and suspicion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, doubt suggests both uncertainty and inability to make a decision.

plagued by doubts as to what to do

When is dubiety a more appropriate choice than suspicion?

Although the words dubiety and suspicion have much in common, dubiety stresses a wavering between conclusions.

felt some dubiety about its practicality

When is it sensible to use mistrust instead of suspicion?

The words mistrust and suspicion can be used in similar contexts, but mistrust implies a genuine doubt based upon suspicion.

had a great mistrust of doctors

When can skepticism be used instead of suspicion?

In some situations, the words skepticism and suspicion are roughly equivalent. However, skepticism implies unwillingness to believe without conclusive evidence.

an economic forecast greeted with skepticism

In what contexts can uncertainty take the place of suspicion?

The synonyms uncertainty and suspicion are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of suspicion
Noun
Most Popular Hugh Jackman’s wife had ‘suspicions’ about his Broadway co-star Sutton Foster: report A sophisticated heist crew traveled from West Hollywood to Seattle, stealing millions and eluding police. Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2024 The suspicion arose from the open-source documents submitted by teams to the FIA, which were then closely analyzed by competing teams. Kanzah Maktoum, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024 Roberson showed little emotion at the hospital, which furthered law enforcement’s suspicions. Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 18 Oct. 2024 Crossley could not comment on what led to the suspicion that Perez was taken against her will from the home. Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for suspicion 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suspicion
Noun
  • The company believes there is no longer substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern due to recent business improvements and actions taken by management.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
  • But just in case there were any doubts, the Lakers’ 131-114 loss, which dropped them to 4-4 overall and 1-4 on their road trip, was a reminder.
    Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Born on TikTok, this is an ideal choice for fall/winter thanks to its cool undertones; deep berry hues offer a hint of blue that adds a head-turning pop to any autumnal beauty look.
    Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2024
  • The decision will be followed by comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, which could provide hints about the Fed’s expectations for the economy and interest rates for the coming months.
    Jesse Pound,Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • After six rounds the judge accurately guessed the number 89% of the time.
    Stephen Ornes, Quanta Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
  • Players get six attempts to guess a five-letter word.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Then again, in that same interview, Brown expressed skepticism about whether the British public would also welcome his American wife back into a royal role.
    Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • Although this is a worrying trend, growing Taiwanese skepticism of the United States has not translated into a greater desire to unify with Beijing. HARDENED STEEL China’s gray-zone campaign, intended to help achieve unification, is instead pushing Taiwan further away.
    David Sacks, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The procedure offers a glimmer of hope after months of loss.
    Emily Palmer, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024
  • There had been a glimmer of hope over the weekend when the company and union leaders reached a preliminary agreement, thanks partly to an intervention from Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su.
    Melvin Backman, Quartz, 24 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • By investing in infrastructure and assuming the associated risks, these services allow stakeholders to operate without altering their business processes.
    Oleg Chanchikov, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Collectors who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on Wiley’s paintings in the past are sitting on investments whose value might not be what it once was assumed to be.
    Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The company faces significant risks and uncertainties, including the need for additional capital and the outcome of its clinical trials, as detailed in the risk factors section of the report.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
  • There’s a lot of uncertainty ahead for U.S. elections, said Kathy Boockvar, the former Democratic secretary of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
    Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The story picks up in a military bunker in the Everglades, where the last shreds of humanity have gathered in search of safety.
    Katie Rife, EW.com, 29 Oct. 2024
  • Drone footage shows the roof of the dome being ripped off in shreds, eventually falling away entirely to expose the dome’s supporting structural beams and the interior of the ballpark, from the stadium seating to the outfield.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near suspicion

Cite this Entry

“Suspicion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suspicion. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on suspicion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!