suspicious

adjective

sus·​pi·​cious sə-ˈspi-shəs How to pronounce suspicious (audio)
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

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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'suspicious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of suspicious was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near suspicious

Cite this Entry

“Suspicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suspicious. Accessed 3 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

suspicious

adjective
sus·​pi·​cious sə-ˈspish-əs How to pronounce suspicious (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on suspicious

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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