C1adjective 2K

Suspicious

🇬🇧 UK /["/səˈspɪʃəs/"]/ 🇺🇸 US /["/səˈspɪʃəs/"]/

Meaning of Suspicious

feeling that somebody has done something wrong, illegal or dishonest, without having any proof

In simple words: Thinking something is wrong or that someone might be dishonest.

Suspicious in a sentence

• The security guard gave a suspicious look to the man lurking near the entrance.
• She was suspicious of his sudden change in behavior after the meeting.
• They found the suspicious transaction on his bank statement worrying.
• There was a suspicious smell coming from the abandoned house.
• His story sounded suspicious, so the police decided to investigate further.

How to use Suspicious

Use 'suspicious' when describing feelings or behaviors that indicate doubt or mistrust. It's appropriate in both written and spoken contexts but may seem overly formal in casual conversations.

Grammar pattern

suspicious + of/object

Memory hint

Think of 'sus' which is slang for someone questionable — they make you suspicious.

Related words

Collocations with Suspicious

• be
• feel
• look
• extremely
• fairly
• very
• about
• of
• be right to be suspicious (of somebody/​something)
• have reason to be suspicious (of somebody/​something)
• have a right to be suspicious (of somebody/​something)
• be
• look
• seem
• extremely
• fairly
• very
• hear anything suspicious
• see anything suspicious
• be
• feel
• look
• extremely
• fairly
• very
• about
• of
• be right to be suspicious (of somebody/​something)
• have reason to be suspicious (of somebody/​something)
• have a right to be suspicious (of somebody/​something)

Synonyms for Suspicious

• sceptical

Opposites of Suspicious

• trusting
• naive
• gullible

Common mistakes with Suspicious

• Confusing 'suspicious' with 'suspenseful' — they have different meanings.
• Using 'suspicious' as a noun without proper context.
• Incorrectly saying 'suspicious about' instead of 'suspicious of'.

Frequently asked questions about Suspicious

What does Suspicious mean?

Thinking something is wrong or that someone might be dishonest.

What is the definition of Suspicious?

feeling that somebody has done something wrong, illegal or dishonest, without having any proof

How do you use Suspicious in a sentence?

The security guard gave a suspicious look to the man lurking near the entrance.

Can you give another example of Suspicious?

She was suspicious of his sudden change in behavior after the meeting.

What are synonyms for Suspicious?

Common alternatives include sceptical.

What is the opposite of Suspicious?

Opposite meanings include trusting, naive, gullible.

What words go with Suspicious?

It commonly pairs with be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, about, of, be right to be suspicious (of somebody/​something), have reason to be suspicious (of somebody/​something), have a right to be suspicious (of somebody/​something), be, look, seem, extremely, fairly, very, hear anything suspicious, see anything suspicious, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, about, of, be right to be suspicious (of somebody/​something), have reason to be suspicious (of somebody/​something), have a right to be suspicious (of somebody/​something).

What are common mistakes when using Suspicious?

Confusing 'suspicious' with 'suspenseful' — they have different meanings. Using 'suspicious' as a noun without proper context. Incorrectly saying 'suspicious about' instead of 'suspicious of'.

How do you pronounce Suspicious?

US: /["/səˈspɪʃəs/"]/, UK: /["/səˈspɪʃəs/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

When should I use Suspicious?

Use 'suspicious' when describing feelings or behaviors that indicate doubt or mistrust. It's appropriate in both written and spoken contexts but may seem overly formal in casual conversations.

What CEFR level is Suspicious?

"Suspicious" is at C1 level on the CEFR scale.