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

Two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, have been under league investigation since July after an Ohio gaming commission flagged suspicious betting activity on prop bets. —Evan Drellich, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025

Detectives are especially interested in any surveillance or dashcam video that may have captured suspicious activity in the area around the time of the shooting. —Stepheny Price , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025

Officials have begun a death investigation, but the death does not appear suspicious based on early indications, officials said in a release. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025

The sheriff’s office was called, and initially the deaths were deemed suspicious, though the situation seemed more perplexing than criminal. —Joy Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 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