suspicious
gb/səspˈɪʃəs/ us/səspˈɪʃəs/
B1
English
~ 4800
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
state
1
feeling doubt or mistrust
Thinking that someone or something may be bad or not honest.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is suspicious of [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'suspicious' with 'suspect'. 'Suspicious' describes a feeling or quality, while 'suspect' is usually a noun or verb.
Synonyms
distrustful (Focuses on a general lack of trust rather than a specific suspicion.)
|
wary (Suggests cautiousness and alertness to possible danger.)
Antonyms
trusting (Willing to believe people are honest without suspicion.)
|
confident (Feeling sure and without doubt about someone or something.)
Collocations
suspicious behavior
|suspicious activity
|suspicious circumstances
|look suspicious
|highly suspicious
Themes
emotions
|social
|crime
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The police grew suspicious of his sudden wealth.
- She was suspicious of the stranger's offer.
- I'm suspicious that he isn't telling the whole truth.
- They became suspicious after seeing the same car parked outside every night.
Learner examples
- I am suspicious of the new neighbor.
- She looks suspicious of the man in the hat.
- The teacher is suspicious of his excuse.
- They are suspicious about the noise outside.
adjective
B1
property
2
appearing dishonest or dangerous
Looking like something bad or wrong may be happening.
Usage pattern:
[something] looks/appears suspicious
Common mistake:
Some learners mistakenly use 'suspect' instead of 'suspicious' when describing an object or appearance.
Synonyms
questionable (Implies uncertainty or doubt about correctness or honesty.)
|
dubious (Suggests strong doubt about truthfulness or reliability.)
Antonyms
innocuous (Appearing harmless and not dangerous.)
|
trustworthy (Appearing reliable and honest.)
Collocations
suspicious package
|suspicious smell
|suspicious noise
|look suspicious
|sound suspicious
Themes
emotions
|crime
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|law
Examples
- The guards noticed a suspicious package near the entrance.
- His story sounded suspicious to the investigators.
- They found her behavior at the meeting highly suspicious.
- There was a suspicious smell coming from the basement.
Learner examples
- That man looks suspicious.
- The box is suspicious.
- Her smile is suspicious.
- The sound outside is suspicious.
Grammar
Dictionary form
suspicious
IPA
GB/səspˈɪʃəs/
US/səspˈɪʃəs/
Syllables & stress
sus - pi - cious (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pi)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: suspicious
Word family
Core family
Negative and opposite forms
unsuspecting
adjective
Advanced or less common
suspiciousness
noun
Expressions
look suspicious
1/lˈʊk səspˈɪʃəs/
fixed phrase
appear dishonest or dangerous
To seem like you may be doing something wrong or bad.
Examples
- He began to look suspicious after avoiding questions.
- That box looks suspicious sitting there alone.
make someone suspicious
1/mˈeɪk sˈʌmwˌʌn səspˈɪʃəs/
fixed phrase
cause doubt or mistrust in someone
To cause a person to think something may be wrong or dishonest.
Examples
- His late arrival made her suspicious.
- The missing files made the manager suspicious.
under suspicious circumstances
1/ˈʌndɚ səspˈɪʃəs sˈɚkəmstˌænsɪz/
fixed phrase
happening in doubtful conditions
Happening in a way that makes people think something bad or wrong may have happened.
Examples
- The official died under suspicious circumstances.
- The company closed suddenly under suspicious circumstances.