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

• questionable
• dubious
• disputable
• suspect
• doubtful
• problematical
• problematic
• debatable

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, security teams must expand visibility with tools that monitor AI use, flag suspicious behavior and inventory every AI-enabled app. —Jason Vest, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Why else, the night Mrs. Palit invited us to dinner, did my eyes fall on suspicious dark objects, not much larger than prominent flecks of salt, in the dal? —Jhumpa Lahiri, New Yorker, 30 June 2025

Monitor your accounts Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 June 2025

Ten-year veteran Terry Rozier, who has started nearly 400 games in his career, has also been investigated for suspicious betting patterns surrounding his participation, but he has not been charged with any crimes and remains in the league. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 29 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for suspicious

• adventitious
• cementitious
• expeditious
• inauspicious
• injudicious
• meretricious
• repetitious
• superstitious
• surreptitious
• unambitious
• unpropitious
• unsuspicious

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