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.

See More

Recent Examples on the Web

The meeting appeared to reflect the Kremlin's plan to redeploy some Wagner mercenaries to the front line in Ukraine after their brief mutiny and the suspicious deaths of Prigozhin and the group's senior leadership in an Aug. 23 plane crash. —Yuras Karmanau The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2023

All three, however, have stuck with Reaganite orthodoxy on foreign policy — deeply suspicious of Russia, in favor of a leading U.S. role in NATO and strongly backing U.S. aid to Ukraine. —David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2023

Outside of court, Iredale told the Union-Tribune that the timing of the audit in November 2018 was suspicious. —Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2023

Police said the case is suspicious and that the Homicide Detectives Division is now investigating, according to WPVI. —Jon Haworth, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2023

McClain was unarmed when he was stopped on Aug. 24, 2019, by officers responding to a report of a suspicious person wearing a ski mask and waving his arms. —Deon J. Hampton, NBC News, 20 Sep. 2023

Now, six bankers face a criminal trial in the city-state on the Mediterranean Sea, where some are charged with helping Amore launder money and others are accused of failing to alert the government about suspicious transactions. —BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023

Report suspicious activity Rather than merely blocking a suspicious number, take an extra step. —Kurt Knutsson, Fox News, 17 Sep. 2023

The police were responding to a report of a suspicious person wearing a ski mask and waving his arms. —Deon J. Hampton, NBC News, 19 Sep. 2023

See More

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