suspicious

adjective

sus·pi·cious | \sə-ˈspi-shəs

\

Definition of suspicious

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

Other Words from suspicious Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about suspicious

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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

In a report unveiled Thursday, the Secret Service offered schools guidance on spotting suspicious behavior and figuring out when and how to intervene. — Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY, "Secret Service urges U.S. schools to set up 'threat teams' to prevent shootings," 12 July 2018 Police say a woman found dead on the west side died under suspicious circumstances. — Vic Ryckaert, Indianapolis Star, "IMPD investigating woman's suspicious death," 31 May 2018 Lhatoo didn’t witness any suspicious behavior—unlike businesswoman Carol Baez, on a red-eye from Dallas to Paris four years ago. — Mark Ellwood, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Reality of In-Flight Theft," 18 May 2018 Part of my job as a flight attendant is to report suspicious behavior to the captain. — Elliott Hester, latimes.com, "What you say on an airplane can get you in deep trouble — and so can what you don't say," 14 May 2018 The federal lawsuits say drug manufacturers overstated the benefits and downplayed the risks of addiction when treating pain with opioids, and that drug distributors failed to properly monitor suspicious orders of painkillers. — Eric Heisig, cleveland.com, "Cleveland judge in opioid litigation says trial prep is aiding in settlement talks with Big Pharma," 10 May 2018 The death of a man in his 80s in Northeast Portland Thursday is being examined by homicide detectives because of apparent suspicious circumstances, according to Portland police. — Everton Bailey Jr., OregonLive.com, "Death of elderly man in NE Portland home appears suspicious, police say," 10 May 2018 According to a news release from Bloomfield Township police, the incident happened on April 11 when a Costco employee alerted her manager to suspicious behavior in the women’s bathroom. — Detroit Free Press Staff, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan woman arrested for 'huffing' Dust-off in Costco bathroom," 19 Apr. 2018 There was no explanation of how the driving was suspicious. — Pauline Repard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Border Patrol seizes 45 pounds of meth in pickup along I-15 in Fallbrook," 14 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'suspicious.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near suspicious

suspensory ligament

Statistics for suspicious

Last Updated

4 Oct 2018

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Time Traveler for suspicious

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

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More Definitions for suspicious

suspicious

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of suspicious

: causing a feeling that something is wrong or that someone is behaving wrongly : causing suspicion

: having or showing a feeling that something is wrong or that someone is behaving wrongly : feeling or showing suspicion

See the full definition for suspicious in the English Language Learners Dictionary

suspicious

adjective

sus·pi·cious | \sə-ˈspi-shəs

\

Kids Definition of suspicious

1 : likely to arouse suspicion suspicious actions

2 : likely to distrust or be distrustful Trolls are … mighty suspicious about anything new to them.— J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

3 : showing distrust a suspicious glance

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