suspicious

American  

[suh-spish-uhs] / səˈspɪʃ əs /

adjective

1. tending to cause or excite suspicion; questionable.

   suspicious behavior.

   Synonyms:

   doubtful, dubious, suspect

2. inclined to suspect, especially inclined to suspect evil; distrustful.

   a suspicious tyrant.

   Synonyms:

   wary, mistrustful

3. full of or feeling suspicion.

4. expressing or indicating suspicion.

   a suspicious glance.

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suspicious British  

/ səˈspɪʃəs /

adjective

1. exciting or liable to excite suspicion; questionable

2. disposed to suspect something wrong

3. indicative or expressive of suspicion

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Usage

What does suspicious mean? To be suspicious is to have a suspicion about someone or something, especially to have a feeling of distrust about the person or thing. To be suspicious of someone most often involves suspecting that they are engaged in some wrongdoing, as in My parents became suspicious of me when I kept asking whether they’d be home tomorrow. The word is commonly used to describe a person who is suspicious of someone or something in a specific situation. Sometimes, though, it’s used to describe a person who’s suspicious in general—meaning that they’re generally skeptical or distrustful. It can also be used to describe something, such as an action, that indicates that a person is suspicious, as in She gave me a suspicious look that meant she knew I was up to something. Suspicious can also be used to describe someone or something that causes suspicion, as in The guards are trained to identify suspicious people, suspicious behavior, and suspicious packages. Being suspicious is usually based on something, such as a hunch or some kind of evidence, but the word is typically used in situations in which there is some doubt—when someone suspects something, but isn’t sure. The same thing is implied by the verb suspect and the noun suspicion. Suspicious is most commonly used in negative contexts, but this isn’t always the case. For example, you might be suspicious that someone is planning a surprise party for you. Example: Police are encouraging citizens to alert the authorities if they see any suspicious activity on the subway.

Other Word Forms

• hypersuspicious
  adjective
• hypersuspiciously
  adverb
• hypersuspiciousness
  noun
• oversuspicious
  adjective
• oversuspiciously
  adverb
• oversuspiciousness
  noun
• presuspicious
  adjective
• presuspiciously
  adverb
• presuspiciousness
  noun
• self-suspicious
  adjective
• supersuspicious
  adjective
• supersuspiciously
  adverb
• supersuspiciousness
  noun
• suspiciously
  adverb
• suspiciousness
  noun
• unsuspicious
  adjective
• unsuspiciously
  adverb
• unsuspiciousness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of suspicious

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin suspīciōsus, from suspīci(ō) “mistrust” ( see suspicion) + -ōsus -ous

Explanation

Suspicious behavior inspires distrust. Prancing around your backyard in a trench coat and fake mustache during daylight might elicit weird looks from your neighbors; do it at night, though, so that your silhouette glides past their windows, and what appeared innocent enough hours before will quickly transition to suspicious. Use this adjective to describe a behavior or event that arouses doubt or mistrust. How to avoid appearing suspicious? Well, for one, stop pausing mid-conversation to take covert notes in that little journal of yours. And two, don’t wear sunglasses indoors, and don’t try to walk without making a sound. That will make people cagey, which is a synonym for suspicious. Other synonyms include apprehensive, doubtful, wary, and watchful.

Example Sentences

Glatzer: I definitely have become much more suspicious of data collection.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

Imagine police responding to a robbery by obtaining judicial permission to open every safety deposit box in a neighborhood bank, briefly inspect the contents, and determine afterward which customers seem suspicious.

From Slate • May 20, 2026

Officers had become suspicious of how he was driving his lorry, which was carrying 28 pallets of underwear and clothing, and they x-rayed it at the port.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

Cops in Hayward, near San Francisco, became suspicious when they noticed the passenger in one vehicle -- slumped over, wearing a blue hoodie and a sun hat -- appeared to have no face.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

I think of how beautiful the view onto the planet was, but know Crick would grow suspicious if we had the window open when we should be focusing on our work.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

Related Words

• apprehensive
• careful
• cautious
• doubtful
• incredulous
• jealous
• leery
• mistrustful
• skeptical
• wary
• watchful