suspicion
1 of 2noun
sus·pi·cion sə-ˈspi-shən 
1
a
: the act or an instance of suspecting something wrong without proof or on slight evidence : mistrust
b
: a state of mental uneasiness and uncertainty : doubt
2
: a barely detectable amount : trace
just a suspicion of garlic
suspicion
2 of 2verb
suspicioned; suspicioning sə-ˈspi-sh(ə-)niŋ
transitive verb
chiefly dialectal
: suspect
Synonyms
Noun
- distrust
- distrustfulness
- doubt
- dubiety
- dubitation [archaic]
- incertitude
- misdoubt
- misgiving
- mistrust
- mistrustfulness
- query
- reservation
- skepticism
- uncertainty
Verb
- assume
- conjecture
- daresay
- guess
- imagine
- presume
- speculate
- suppose
- surmise
- suspect
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun There has long been a suspicion that the painting is a fake. I thought the water might be making us sick, and my suspicions were confirmed by the lab tests. The note aroused her suspicions that he was having an affair. I have a sneaking suspicion that those cookies aren't really homemade. The new policies are regarded by many with suspicion. His story has raised some suspicion. I have my suspicions about his motives. Verb no one will ever suspicion that I'm the one who pulled the prank See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Marc Duvoisin, San Antonio Express-News, 7 Feb. 2023 At the end of last year Tate was arrested by Romanian police on suspicion of rape, organized crime and human trafficking. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 6 Feb. 2023 An 84-year-old man was arrested Monday on suspicion of fatally shooting his 78-year-old wife in a home in the Skyline neighborhood, San Diego police said. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2023 The suspect, who also allegedly stabbed Mammone, was identified as 39-year-old Vanroy Evan Smith after being detained by bystanders and arrested on suspicion of murder. —Jon Brown, Fox News, 6 Feb. 2023 Thomas was also arrested in Oregon in October 2019 on suspicion of DUI. —Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 5 Feb. 2023 Brooks was arrested at his home on Thursday on suspicion of making criminal threats, brandishing a deadly weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing a firearm on school grounds and child abuse. —Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2023 Brian McIntyre’s future as Cochise County’s top prosecutor was thrown into question after Sierra Vista police arrested the county attorney on suspicion of DUI in the early morning of Jan. 28. —Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 3 Feb. 2023 He was subsequently taken into custody and booked into the Orange County Jail on suspicion of murder, according to the sheriff's department. —Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 3 Feb. 2023 See More
Noun
Early Tuesday, Texas state Sen. Charles Schwertner was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in Travis County, police records show. —Marc Duvoisin, San Antonio Express-News, 7 Feb. 2023 At the end of last year Tate was arrested by Romanian police on suspicion of rape, organized crime and human trafficking. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 6 Feb. 2023 An 84-year-old man was arrested Monday on suspicion of fatally shooting his 78-year-old wife in a home in the Skyline neighborhood, San Diego police said. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2023 The suspect, who also allegedly stabbed Mammone, was identified as 39-year-old Vanroy Evan Smith after being detained by bystanders and arrested on suspicion of murder. —Jon Brown, Fox News, 6 Feb. 2023 Thomas was also arrested in Oregon in October 2019 on suspicion of DUI. —Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 5 Feb. 2023 Brooks was arrested at his home on Thursday on suspicion of making criminal threats, brandishing a deadly weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing a firearm on school grounds and child abuse. —Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2023 Brian McIntyre’s future as Cochise County’s top prosecutor was thrown into question after Sierra Vista police arrested the county attorney on suspicion of DUI in the early morning of Jan. 28. —Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 3 Feb. 2023 He was subsequently taken into custody and booked into the Orange County Jail on suspicion of murder, according to the sheriff's department. —Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 3 Feb. 2023 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English suspecioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin suspicion-, suspicio, from suspicere to suspect — more at suspect
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
circa 1637, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing suspicion
Kids Definition
suspicion
1 of 2 noun sus·pi·cion sə-ˈspish-ən
1
: the act or an instance of suspecting or being suspected
2
: a feeling that something is wrong without definite evidence
3
: a small amount
suspicion
2 of 2 verb suspicioned; suspicioning -ˈspish-(ə-)niŋ
chiefly substandard
: suspect entry 3
Legal Definition
suspicion
noun sus·pi·cion
: the act or an instance of suspecting something : a mental state usually short of belief in which one entertains a notion that something is wrong or that a fact exists without proof or on slight evidence see also reasonable suspicion
suspicionless adjective
suspicioning
verb
as in guessing
to form an opinion from little or no evidence no one will ever suspicion that I'm the one who pulled the prank Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- guessing
- assuming
- thinking
- daresaying
- suspecting
- speculating
- supposing
- presuming
- imagining
- surmising
- believing
- conjecturing
- inferring
- expecting
- concluding
- gathering
- deducing
- theorizing
- hypothecating
- hypothesizing
- judging
- reckoning
- conceiving
- taking
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- establishing
- proving
- demonstrating
- documenting
- validating
- learning
- determining
- ascertaining
- finding out
- substantiating