suspiciously
gb/səspˈɪʃəsli/ us/səspˈɪʃəsli/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B2
property
1
in a way that seems wrong
In a way that makes you think something is not right.
Usage pattern:
suspiciously + [adjective/adverb]
Common mistake:
Don’t use it to mean only “curious”; it usually implies possible wrongdoing or a hidden problem.
Synonyms
oddly (More general; may not imply possible wrongdoing.)
|
strangely (Emphasizes unusualness; less strongly linked to suspicion.)
|
fishily (Informal; strongly suggests something dishonest.)
Antonyms
normally (Without unusual or concerning signs.)
|
innocently (Without any sign of wrongdoing.)
Collocations
suspiciously quiet
|suspiciously cheap
|suspiciously low
|suspiciously high
|suspiciously easy
|suspiciously calm
|suspiciously perfect
|suspiciously clean
|suspiciously quick
|suspiciously convenient
Themes
emotions
|crime
|daily_life
Examples
- The tickets were suspiciously cheap for a sold-out show.
- The house was suspiciously quiet when we got home.
- Her explanation sounded suspiciously convenient.
Learner examples
- The price is suspiciously low.
- It is suspiciously quiet here.
adverb
B2
property
2
showing distrust or suspicion
In a way that shows you do not trust someone or something.
Usage pattern:
look/glance/stare/eye [someone/something] suspiciously
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse it with ‘carefully’; ‘suspiciously’ adds the idea of distrust.
Synonyms
distrustfully (Directly expresses lack of trust.)
|
skeptically (More about doubt than suspected wrongdoing.)
|
warily (Emphasizes caution; may not imply suspected dishonesty.)
Antonyms
trustingly (Showing trust rather than suspicion.)
|
openly (Without guardedness or doubt.)
Collocations
look suspiciously
|glance suspiciously
|stare suspiciously
|eye someone suspiciously
|watch suspiciously
|peer suspiciously
|listen suspiciously
|question suspiciously
|check suspiciously
|smile suspiciously
Themes
emotions
|communication
|social
Examples
- The guard watched them suspiciously as they entered the building.
- She looked at the email suspiciously and didn’t click the link.
- He glanced suspiciously over his shoulder when he heard footsteps.
Learner examples
- She looked at me suspiciously.
- He watched the bag suspiciously.
Grammar
Dictionary form
suspiciously
IPA
GB/səspˈɪʃəsli/
US/səspˈɪʃəsli/
Syllables & stress
sus - pi - ciously (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pi)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: suspiciously
- Plural: suspiciouslies
Expressions
act suspiciously
1/ˈækt səspˈɪʃəsli/
fixed phrase
behave in a suspicious way
To behave so that people think you might be doing something bad.
Examples
- The manager called security because someone was acting suspiciously near the registers.
- Try not to act suspiciously when you’re planning a surprise.
- He started acting suspiciously whenever money went missing.
look suspiciously at
1/lˈʊk səspˈɪʃəsli ˈæt/
fixed phrase
look with distrust
To look at someone because you do not trust them.
Examples
- She looked suspiciously at the caller ID and didn’t answer.
- He looked suspiciously at the stranger in the hallway.
- They looked suspiciously at the contract before signing.
suspiciously close to
1/səspˈɪʃəsli klˈoʊs tə/
fixed phrase
uncomfortably near a limit
Very near, in a way that feels worrying or not normal.
Examples
- The final total was suspiciously close to the spending limit.
- Her account of events is suspiciously close to his.
- The boat drifted suspiciously close to the rocks.
suspiciously like
1/səspˈɪʃəsli lˈaɪk/
fixed phrase
strangely similar to something
Very similar in a way that seems not accidental.
Examples
- That logo is suspiciously like ours.
- His story sounded suspiciously like the excuse you used yesterday.
- The ‘new’ design is suspiciously like the old one with minor changes.
suspiciously quiet
1/səspˈɪʃəsli kwˈaɪət/
fixed phrase
quiet in a worrying way
Too quiet, so you think something is wrong.
Examples
- The kids were suspiciously quiet, so I went to check on them.
- My phone has been suspiciously quiet all day—no calls, no messages.
- The office was suspiciously quiet after the announcement.
suspiciously similar to
1/səspˈɪʃəsli sˈɪmɪlɚ tə/
fixed phrase
too similar to be accidental
Very similar in a way that seems wrong.
Examples
- Your essay is suspiciously similar to one I read online.
- The two invoices are suspiciously similar to each other.
- Their ‘independent’ reports are suspiciously similar in wording.