suspicious - Master This Word

suspicious Word Meanings

• having a cautious distrust of someone or something
• inclined to suspect, especially in untrustworthy or dishonest situations
• feeling doubt or mistrust

suspicious Example Sentences

Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.

• The man had a suspicious look on his face.
• I felt suspicious about the strange noise.
• Her answer was suspicious and not clear.
• He acted suspicious when I asked him a question.
• They became suspicious of the unknown car in their street.

suspicious Word Etymology

sus- = from under + picio = look (Latin). Originated from Latin 'suspicionem' via Old French into Middle English. Picture someone peering cautiously over a fence, suspicious of what lies beyond.

English Brain Route

I move my weight in the chair and scan the room with careful eyes. A door creaks and I test the hinges by shifting a step closer, then I settle back and keep watching. Something about the stranger's gaze makes me feel suspicious, as if a small doubt is turning into a warning. I adjust my posture, set my jaw, and decide to stay alert rather than relax, letting the moment teach me what to do next.

Real Context

Suspicious describes a cautious distrust or doubt about someone or something, often focusing on motives rather than objective facts. It can refer to a person who seems underhanded or to a situation that appears off or untrustworthy. In everyday use we say I am suspicious of his motives, or that a piece of evidence is suspicious. The word implies an active tendency to question or doubt, not merely a general uncertainty. It commonly signals that something deserves closer scrutiny or caution, rather than a firm conclusion about guilt or danger.

Usage Reminders

• Use with of for people or motives: suspicious of someone or suspicious of his motives. Use with that or about for a statement or situation: suspicious that he is lying / suspicious about the plan. It often appears with look, seem, or feel: something looks suspicious. It can describe a temporary feeling, not a fixed personality trait. Avoid confusing with suspense or with the noun suspicion.

Common Misconceptions

• It means you are sure someone is guilty.
• It only relates to crime or wrongdoing.
• It describes a fixed personality trait, not a temporary feeling.
• It is interchangeable with doubt in all contexts.
• If something looks suspicious, you should accuse someone immediately.

Thinking Differences

In English, suspicious often flags a quick personal judgment about motives or honesty. Learners sometimes overgeneralize it to all doubts, forgetting that suspicion can be situational and temporary. English also uses specific prepositions (of, that, about) more flexibly than some languages, so learners may mix them up with similar verbs like doubt or distrust.

Learning Tips

• Learn the common prepositions: suspicious of someone, suspicious about a plan, suspicious that he is lying.
• Pair with verbs like look, seem, feel to describe appearances.
• Differentiate from suspense (tension) and suspicion (a noun).
• Use in context to signal a temporary state, not a fixed personality.
• Practice with motives, evidence, and behavior rather than only outcomes.
• Observe tone: mild suspicion vs strong accusation.

5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English

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2026.01.29 · 1:20 · B2 · IELTS · Dialogue

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