suspicioussus‧pi‧cious /səˈspɪʃəs/ ●●○ adjective 
Some of his colleagues at work became suspicious of his behaviour.suspicious about They were suspicious about my past. His reluctance to answer my questions made me suspicious. She gave him a suspicious glance. You’ve got a very suspicious mind!2making you think that something bad or illegal is happening: They found a suspicious package under the seat. a suspicious death He was behaving in a highly suspicious manner. a suspicious-looking charactersomething/anything/nothing suspicious Call the police if you see anything suspicious. Her mother had died in suspicious circumstances.3feeling that you do not trust someone or something SYN warysuspicious of She was always suspicious of strangers. He was deeply suspicious of the legal system.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A full murder inquiry was launched after the company chairman died in suspicious circumstances.
- Butler has been involved in several suspicious business deals.
- He glanced around, satisfied that nobody was taking any notice of his suspicious behaviour, then opened the door.
- His employer became suspicious about the amount of money he was claiming for expenses.
- I started to get suspicious when I found a hotel bill in Sarah's pocket.
- It all seems very suspicious to me. Where did he get all that money from?
- The circumstances surrounding McBain's death are suspicious.
- The local people were suspicious of me because of my somewhat unusual lifestyle.
- The officials we met in the capital looked suspicious and tense, as if they were expecting us to declare war on them.
- The police were suspicious of Simpson because his story did not quite make sense.
- The public have been asked to report anything suspicious at once.
- The tone of Danny's voice made Nancy suspicious.
- There was a suspicious-looking man standing in a doorway across the street.
- There was a suspicious silence as I opened the door.
- We thought his behaviour was suspicious and called the police immediately.
- You have a very suspicious mind, Mary. No, I had nothing to do with this.
- I also had a suspicious, ungenerous feeling about the reluctance of the white teachers to make use of more realistic books.
- She's deeply suspicious of the circumstances.
- She should have been more suspicious.
- The bruises join a growing list of suspicious marks found on Katelyn in the final 15 weeks of her life.
- We hide behind our men, peeping at each other in a curious and suspicious fashion.
- What had become of the suspicious anti-warrior of the sixties, casting reproachful glances at the Temple University computer center?
THESAURUSseeming to be dishonest
if someone or something seems suspicious, they make you think that something dishonest or illegal is happening: · The police are treating the boy’s death as suspicious.
if something seems dubious, you think it may not be completely true, right, or honest: · He has a rather dubious reputation.· It all sounds highly dubious to me.· the country’s dubious record on human rights
shady business deals or people seem to be dishonest or connected with secret and illegal activities: · Several senior members of the party had been involved in shady deals.· a shady character
someone who looks shifty looks as if they are doing or planning something dishonest: · The man on the market stall looked a bit shifty when he gave me my change.
British English informal probably dishonest and not to be trusted – used especially to say that you do not want to be involved with someone or something: · There’s something a bit dodgy about him.· dodgy business deals
Longman Language Activatorwhen someone or something seems dishonest use this about behaviour or a situation that makes you think that someone is doing something dishonest: · It all seems very suspicious to me. Where did he get all that money from?· The circumstances surrounding McBain's death are suspicious.· He glanced around, satisfied that nobody was taking any notice of his suspicious behaviour, then opened the door.suspicious-looking: · There was a suspicious-looking man standing in a doorway across the street.
use this to describe business deals or the people involved in them, when they seem dishonest or illegal, especially because the business is secret: · His acceptance of an interest-free £125,000 loan from a shady businessman looks suspicious to say the least.shady deal: · He has been mixed up in a number of shady deals in the Cayman Islands.
someone who is shifty looks or behaves as if they are doing or planning something dishonest: · There's something shifty about that guy.· a shifty, fast-talking lawyer
British informal probably dishonest, although you are not sure of the facts - use this especially to say that you do not want to be involved with someone or something: · Don't buy a car from him, he's a real dodgy character.· The whole thing looks distinctly dodgy to me.
use this about someone's behaviour or a business arrangement that does not seem completely right or correct, so that you think it is probably dishonest: · He had been involved in some questionable business activities at one time.· Marantz resigned after discovering that dubious business deals were being negotiated by his fellow officials.highly dubious/questionable: · The whole deal seems highly dubious to me.
informal use this about someone you think is doing or planning something dishonest, even though you do not know exactly what it is: · If you ask me, that husband of hers is up to no good.· Anyone waiting around on street corners at night must be up to no good.
when something makes you suspect someone · We thought his behaviour was suspicious and called the police immediately.· There was a suspicious silence as I opened the door.· The public have been asked to report anything suspicious at once.in suspicious circumstances · A full murder inquiry was launched after the company chairman died in suspicious circumstances.
informal something that is fishy or sounds fishy makes you suspect that something bad or dishonest is being done: · Frank said there was nothing to worry about, but it all sounded very fishy to me.· There's something fishy about this business, if you ask me.
also dodgy British informal shady deals and other activities seem to have something dishonest or illegal about them. A shady person is someone who seems likely to be involved in dishonest or illegal activities: · We'd suspected for a while she was involved in something a bit shady.· He has been mixed up in a number of shady deals in the City.· His acceptance of a huge loan from a shady businessman looks suspicious to say the least.
to think that someone has done something wrong to think that someone is probably guilty of something illegal or dishonest: · Act naturally and no one will suspect you.suspect somebody of (doing) something: · He had suspected her of lying for some time.· Both men had originally been suspected of Brown's murder.suspect murder/foul play (=suspect that there has been a murder): · A man has been found dead in his home and the police suspect foul play.
thinking that someone might be guilty of doing something wrong or dishonest, without being sure: · I started to get suspicious when I found a hotel bill in Sarah's pocket.suspicious of: · The police were suspicious of Simpson because his story did not quite make sense.suspicious about: · His employer became suspicious about the amount of money he was claiming for expenses.suspicious mind: · You have a very suspicious mind, Mary. No, I had nothing to do with this.
a feeling that someone is probably guilty of doing something wrong or dishonest: · I had no solid evidence, only vague suspicions.suspicion of: · She had always had a deep suspicion of journalists and reporters.deep suspicion: · ''What's that behind your back?'', Maria said with a look of deep suspicion.arouse/cause suspicion (=make people suspect you): · The money was taken out of the bank in small amounts so as not to arouse suspicion.on suspicion of murder/theft etc (=because the police suspect you are guilty of murder etc): · He's been arrested on suspicion of murder.
to have a slight feeling that someone has done something wrong, without having any definite information: have a sneaking suspicion that: · I had a sneaking suspicion that my agent was not telling me the truth.
to think you probably know who did something wrong: · I don't know for definite who stole the money, but I have my suspicions.
informal to guess that someone is doing something bad or dishonest, even though you do not know exactly what it is: · We started to smell a rat when they asked for an extra £500 deposit.
words for describing someone who does not usually trust other people · The officials we met in the capital looked suspicious and tense, as if they were expecting us to declare war on them.suspicious of · The local people were suspicious of me because of my somewhat unusual lifestyle.
· He was unsociable and distrustful, but also a fanatical worker.distrustful/mistrustful of · For nearly a whole century, Eastern and Western Europe remained deeply distrustful of each other.· Many people are still very mistrustful of computers.
not trust · I don't know what to do. I mean if I can't trust my best friend, who can I trust?· Don't trust him. He's lying.not trust somebody with something · I wouldn't trust him with my money.· It can be difficult to trust anyone with some of your innermost secrets.not trust somebody an inch British (=not trust someone at all) · I thing you're mad giving him such an important job. I wouldn't trust him an inch.not trust somebody as far as you can throw them (=not trust someone at all) · As for his "advisors", he said he wouldn't trust them as far as he could throw them.
also can't trust somebody/something to be unable to trust someone to do what they say they will do, or to be unable to trust a machine, system etc to work well: · You can't rely on the buses. I've stood here for twenty minutes waiting for one to come.can't rely on to do something: · We need clearer regulations, but you can't trust the government to simplify anything.
if someone is unreliable , you cannot be sure that they will do what they say they will do; if a machine, car etc is unreliable , it often stops working and you cannot be sure it will work well: · We could ask our neighbours to feed the cat, but they're a little unreliable.· Telephone service in most of the country is unreliable.
to have a feeling that you should not trust someone or something, although you are not sure why: · I'm always suspicious of people who offer me money.deeply suspicious (=very suspicious): · She had no proof at all, but nonetheless was deeply suspicious of her former friend's motives.
to not trust someone: · "Was she seeing a doctor?" "No, to my knowledge she mistrusted doctors."· He distrusted people who were too friendly too quickly.
ways of describing someone who you do not trust spoken say this about someone you do not trust: · Many people feel that lawyers can't be trusted, that they are just out for the money and nothing else.sb can't be trusted to do something: · Sharon can't be trusted to look after her own money, let alone deal with other people's.sb can't be trusted with: · Don't say anything to Ed - he can't be trusted with confidential information.
use this about someone whose appearance or behaviour makes you think that they may intend to do something dishonest or harmful: · The cop said we looked suspicious and that he was arresting us - just for standing on a corner!· The whole operation seemed very suspicious to me, so I thought I'd take a closer look.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY His reluctance to answer my questions made me suspicious. He was behaving in a highly suspicious manner. Call the police if you see anything suspicious. Her mother had died in suspicious circumstances. He was deeply suspicious of the legal system.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
His reluctance to answer my questions made me suspicious. He was behaving in a highly suspicious manner. Call the police if you see anything suspicious. Her mother had died in suspicious circumstances. He was deeply suspicious of the legal system. (=making you think something illegal has happened)· Officers said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
(=used to say that someone may have been killed)· He got involved with drug dealers and died in mysterious circumstances.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Yet it will strike others as suspicious, if well meaning, sleight-of-hand.· Police are treating both fires as suspicious and damage is estimated at £40,000.· Originally, the Middlesbrough man's death was treated as suspicious and the pub sealed off as police questioned teatime drinkers.· Police are not treating the death as suspicious.· Police confirmed they were not treating the fire as suspicious.· Not suspect: Police are not treating the death of woman found in Cleveland woods as suspicious.
· David Widgery was deeply immersed in student politics, and deeply suspicious of It.· It's hardly surprising that we should be deeply suspicious of any attempt to deal with a subject as charged as rape.· She's deeply suspicious of the circumstances.· He is deeply suspicious about Western intentions on his continent.· This liberty was short-lived however. parliament, deeply suspicious of the King's intentions, proclaimed his Declaration illegal in February.· His refusal to compromise and his deeply suspicious nature was spoiling the pleasure of actually being part of the group.
· Obviously he behaved in a highly suspicious manner today, but a guilty conscience can inspire one to do strange things.· The one on the rock looked over slowly, highly suspicious.· He found two types, the highly suspicious and the willing business partners.· She thinks he's a highly suspicious character.· She thinks Alexander is a highly suspicious character, although that wouldn't require any great acumen on anyone's part.· All the members are highly suspicious.· We don't know him, we don't trust him and we think he's a highly suspicious character.· Volunteering a wager was unprecedented, therefore highly suspicious.
· But what made any one boat more suspicious than another?· This tendency has the unfortunate consequence of making program administrators less open to evaluation and more suspicious of its value.· If not, be even more suspicious.· With a more interfering Prime Minister and a more suspicious Foreign Secretary it would not have been a happy arrangement.· The difference theorists are more suspicious than their colleagues in the dominance current of traditional value-judgements about the way women talk.· I removed the envelope and decided to dump the book which, empty, was probably even more suspicious.· Hayling relayed the pressure back to the ever more suspicious comrades.· She should have been more suspicious.
· But what I'd dearly love to know is what on earth made him so suspicious of me?
· Mr Jarvis had recommended me, but he was very suspicious at first.· Louka is also plagued by the police who are very suspicious about his bogus marriage.· Another interview revealed that ever since childhood she had been very suspicious of strangers.· Check this out. Very suspicious.· They were a very suspicious family.· We should also be very suspicious of any codification project which attempts to pre-empt or disguise the irreducibly dispositive element in decision-making.· The way Tony DeFries went at it made me very suspicious.· But it should make us very suspicious.
NOUN· But everyone is advised to remain on their guard and keep vigilant for any suspicious activity.· Detecting suspicious activity in the community is where the bike patrol agents come in handy.· Sometimes, traders on the stock-exchange floors will report suspicious activity.· Newspapers admonished citizens to report any suspicious activity, encouraging them to spy on each other.· Constantly observe spectators for suspicious activity.
· She thinks he's a highly suspicious character.· She thinks Alexander is a highly suspicious character, although that wouldn't require any great acumen on anyone's part.· We don't know him, we don't trust him and we think he's a highly suspicious character.· We had a couple of suspicious characters but their alibis are watertight.· Her murdered sister's widower, who, being an estate agent, is clearly a suspicious character.· Why, if either Black or his friends were suspicious characters, would they first contact the police?
· Police say there are no suspicious circumstances and a coroner has been informed.· A hose pipe was connected to the exhaust. police said there were no suspicious circumstances.· There were no suspicious circumstances and a postmortem was due to be carried out later.· Police said cause had not been established but there were not thought to have been suspicious circumstances.· Apart from anything else, if there were suspicious circumstances, the doctor wouldn't have signed a certificate.· Voice over A postmortem has revealed the man died from natural causes, there are no suspicious circumstances.· Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.· Furthermore, people are more likely to report suspicious circumstances surrounding an individual who appears to be of lower-class origin.
· She threw him a suspicious look.· The gaunt, grey-haired sergeant fixes me with a studiously suspicious look and takes a note of my name and the time.· Husband came back, also distributing suspicious looks, and sat down.
· Those with suspicious minds may wonder why such sweeping action has been taken.· You have a suspicious mind, Michael Riven, but my own goes along with it.· The newspaper argued that the ordinary reader, possessed of a fairer and less suspicious mind, would presume innocence.· It must be his over-sensitive suspicious mind that made him see a relieved relaxing of those muscled shoulders.
· Investigators responded to the two locations after they received calls of suspicious packages in the mail.· Washington area police also responded to dozens of calls for suspicious packages, all of which turned out to be false alarms.· Helicopters will fly overhead, and police robots will be available to handle suspicious packages that might contain explosives.
WORD FAMILYadjectivesuspectsuspectedunsuspectingsuspiciousnounsuspectsuspicionverbsuspectadverbsuspiciously
1thinking that someone might be guilty of doing something wrong or dishonestsuspicious of Some of his colleagues at work became suspicious of his behaviour.suspicious about They were suspicious about my past. His reluctance to answer my questions made me suspicious. She gave him a suspicious glance. You’ve got a very suspicious mind!2making you think that something bad or illegal is happening: They found a suspicious package under the seat. a suspicious death He was behaving in a highly suspicious manner. a suspicious-looking charactersomething/anything/nothing suspicious Call the police if you see anything suspicious. Her mother had died in suspicious circumstances.3feeling that you do not trust someone or something SYN warysuspicious of She was always suspicious of strangers. He was deeply suspicious of the legal system.