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 of suspicious

• questionable
• dubious
• disputable
• suspect
• doubtful
• 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

Officers canvassed the area and could not find any witnesses who saw anything suspicious or had any information about how Carroll ended up on the bench, Krajewski said. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026

Be especially suspicious if someone creates urgency and then asks you to click a link, provide account information or move money. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

The connection only becomes more suspicious in the second episode. — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026

The major breakthrough in the cold case began in October 2020, when the Big Bear Lake resident called authorities about a suspicious finding in the crawlspace under their home, the release said. — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

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