Home
/ Dictionary
/ Suspiciousness

Suspiciousness: meaning, definitions and examples

🕵️‍♂️

Add to dictionary

suspiciousness

[ səˈspɪʃəsnəs ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

feeling

The quality or state of being suspicious; a feeling or belief that someone is guilty of something, especially without evidence or proof.

Synonyms

distrust, mistrust, skepticism, wariness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
suspiciousness	Use this word when describing a general state of being inclined to suspect something is wrong, without specific evidence. It's a general feeling that something might be off. Her suspiciousness grew when she saw the stranger lurking near her car. There was a sense of suspiciousness in the air during the meeting.
distrust	This word is used when you have a lack of trust in someone or something, often based on past experiences or evidence. He felt a deep distrust towards the new manager. The constant lies led to an atmosphere of distrust within the team.
skepticism	Skepticism is a doubting or questioning attitude, often used in contexts where people are questioning beliefs, claims, or assumptions, especially without proof. His skepticism about the new diet trend kept him from trying it. The announcement was met with skepticism by the public.
mistrust	Mistrust is similar to distrust but can sometimes imply a more cautious or instinctive feeling rather than one based on hard evidence. There is a lot of mistrust between the two rival companies. She couldn't shake her mistrust of strangers.
wariness	Wariness signifies a cautious nature, often involving a feeling of being on guard against potential danger or harm. She approached the old, creaking house with wariness. His wariness around dogs began after he was bitten as a child.

Examples of usage

He couldn't shake off the feeling of suspiciousness towards his new neighbor.
Her constant suspiciousness towards others made it difficult for her to trust anyone.
The suspiciousness of his actions raised red flags among his colleagues.
The suspiciousness in her eyes was evident as she questioned the stranger.
His suspiciousness towards authority figures stemmed from past negative experiences.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

behavior

The tendency to be suspicious or mistrustful of others' intentions or actions.

Synonyms

cynicism, distrustfulness, paranoia, wariness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
suspiciousness	Used when someone has doubts or misgivings about someone or something. It can be neutral or negative depending on the intensity. Her suspiciousness grew as she noticed the stranger lurking near her house
distrustfulness	Generally used when someone has a tendency to doubt others and their intentions, often more intense than simple suspicion. His distrustfulness towards new people often made social situations awkward
paranoia	Refers to an irrational and excessive mistrust or fear of others, usually having a strong negative implication. Her paranoia made her believe her coworkers were plotting against her, despite having no real evidence
cynicism	Applied when someone consistently doubts the sincerity or goodness of human motives. It often carries a negative connotation. His cynicism made it hard for him to trust any politician's promises
wariness	Used when someone shows caution or careful consideration, without necessarily having strong negative feelings. The hiker's wariness of the wild animals kept him safe during his journey

Examples of usage

Her suspiciousness often led to misunderstandings and conflicts with her friends.
The suspiciousness in his behavior made his coworkers question his motives.
His suspiciousness towards any form of authority hindered his ability to work as part of a team.
She couldn't help but feel a sense of suspiciousness towards his sudden change in attitude.
His suspiciousness was a defense mechanism he developed after being betrayed in the past.

Translations

Translations of the word "suspiciousness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 suspeição

🇮🇳 संदेह

🇩🇪 Verdacht

🇮🇩 kecurigaan

🇺🇦 підозрілість

🇵🇱 podejrzliwość

🇯🇵 疑わしさ

🇫🇷 suspicion

🇪🇸 sospecha

🇹🇷 şüphe

🇰🇷 의심

🇸🇦 شك

🇨🇿 podezíravost

🇸🇰 podozrievavosť

🇨🇳 怀疑

🇸🇮 sumničavost

🇮🇸 grunsemd

🇰🇿 күдік

🇬🇪 ეჭვი

🇦🇿 şübhə

🇲🇽 sospecha

Etymology

The word 'suspiciousness' originated from the Middle English word 'suspecioun', which in turn came from the Old French word 'suspicion'. The root of the word can be traced back to the Latin word 'suspicionem', meaning 'mistrust or suspicion'. Over time, the word evolved to its current form in English, carrying the connotation of doubt or distrust towards others.