Synonyms of suspicious

suspicious

adjective

sə-ˈspi-shəs 

1

as in questionable

giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged

suspicious claims of being the rightful owner of the property

Synonyms & Similar Words

• questionable
• dubious
• disputable
• suspect
• doubtful
• problematic
• debatable
• fishy
• ambiguous
• shaky
• alleged
• shady
• equivocal
• queer
• unclear
• dodgy
• dubitable
• doubtable
• unlikely
• uncertain
• weak
• supposed
• improbable
• undetermined
• moot
• undecided
• so-called
• flimsy
• open
• far-fetched

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• certain
• sure
• indisputable
• unquestionable
• unproblematic
• undeniable
• incontestable
• indubitable
• undoubted
• decisive
• obvious
• questionless
• definitive
• positive
• clear
• hands-down
• open-and-shut

2

as in skeptical

inclined to doubt or question claims

suspicious of any menu dish having a name she can't pronounce

Synonyms & Similar Words

• skeptical
• cautious
• careful
• incredulous
• wary
• questioning
• distrustful
• mistrustful
• doubting
• paranoid
• disbelieving
• negativistic
• unbelieving
• cynical
• suspecting
• show-me
• curious
• unsure
• watchful
• puzzled
• leery
• quizzical
• inquisitive
• experienced
• critical
• guarded
• uncertain
• hesitant
• unconvinced
• nosy
• worldly
• sophisticated
• undetermined
• knowing
• gun-shy
• undecided
• worldly-wise
• inquiring
• unsettled
• snoopy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• uncritical
• credulous
• gullible
• trusting
• trustful
• naive
• unsophisticated
• certain
• unquestioning
• innocent
• green
• positive
• simple
• sure
• confident
• ingenuous
• unknowing
• unworldly
• wide-eyed
• simpleminded
• inexperienced
• impractical
• idealistic
• raw
• childlike
• callow
• unsuspicious
• careless
• unsuspecting
• deceived
• heedless
• unwary
• duped
• tricked
• beguiled
• gulled

3

as in unsure

not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something

you should be very suspicious of those telephone calls from people telling you that you're the winner of a contest you never entered

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unsure
• skeptical
• uncertain
• doubtful
• dubious
• unsettled
• distrustful
• mistrustful
• unconvinced
• undecided
• on the fence
• hesitant
• ambivalent
• hinky
• conflicted
• trustless
• insecure
• equivocal
• diffident
• irresolute
• indecisive
• wavering
• halting
• vacillating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• certain
• positive
• sure
• convinced
• confident
• assured
• sanguine
• decisive
• determined
• self-assured
• resolute

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of suspicious

When all news is national and every outraged fan can post their thoughts on social media, a suspicious lineup in Utah in April can feed a daylong news cycle. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026

Long Beach police have launched a homicide investigation after a 33-year-old man was found dead with suspicious injuries last week. — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 7 Sep. 2026

For most of Saturday afternoon, Boise State treated one of college football’s most daunting stadiums with a suspicious lack of reverence. — Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Meanwhile, Kyle and his usual pair of special-forces thugs track down a suspiciously large plane (as in, big enough to fly across the Atlantic) and an equally suspicious flight manifest. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026