What does suspicious mean Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈsʌspɪʃəs/

Part of Speech

Adjective

Definition

A feeling or impression of doubt, unease, or insecurity about something or someone, typically as a result of observing unusual or unexplained behavior.

Examples

The detective sensed something suspicious about the stranger’s behavior.
The email raised a few suspicious questions about the company’s motives.

Synonyms

Doubtful
Questionable
Sinister

Antonyms

Normal
Genuine
Transparent

Etymology

The word “suspicious” comes from the Latin “suspiciosus,” meaning “watchful” or “full of suspicion.” It has been in use in the English language since the 15th century.

Usage Notes

Suspicious can be used to describe a feeling or intuition that something is not quite right, or to describe an action or behavior that is unusual or unexplained.

Cultural References

Suspicious has been used in numerous films, literature, and television shows to describe a character’s perception of another character’s intentions or behavior.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

Raise suspicions
Be on the lookout for something suspicious
Have a suspicious mind

Related Words or Phrases

Cautious
Wariness
Paranoia

Collocations

Suspicious motives
Suspicious behavior
Suspicious activity

Frequency of Use

Suspicious is a commonly used word in modern language, particularly in discussions of security, crime, and politics.

Common Misspellings

Suspicous
Suspisous
Suspeccious