sus ‧ pi ‧ cious S3 /səˈspɪʃəs/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ suspect , ↑ suspected , ↑ unsuspecting , ↑ suspicious ; noun : ↑ suspect , ↑ suspicion ; verb : ↑ suspect ; adverb : ↑ suspiciously ]
1 . thinking that someone might be guilty of doing something wrong or dishonest
suspicious 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!
2 . making 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 character
something/anything/nothing suspicious
Call the police if you see anything suspicious.
Her mother had died in suspicious circumstances.
3 . feeling that you do not trust someone or something SYN wary
suspicious of
She was always suspicious of strangers.
He was deeply suspicious of the legal system.
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THESAURUS
■ seeming to be dishonest
▪ suspicious 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.
▪ dubious if something seems dubious, you think it may not be completely true, right, or honest:
He has a rather dubious reputation.
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It all sounds highly dubious to me.
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the country’s dubious record on human rights
▪ shady 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.
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a shady character
▪ shifty 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.
▪ dodgy 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.
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dodgy business deals