suspicious
Raising some doubts
Suspicious describes a state of distrust or doubt about someone's motives or honesty: I'm suspicious of anyone who flatters me that much.
It also describes behavior or circumstances that arouse such doubt: suspicious activity, a suspicious package.
The word works both ways—you can be suspicious of something, or something can look suspicious to others.
Arousing doubt, colloquially
- sketchyIncomplete or suspicious
- dubiousOf uncertain reliability
- questionableOf uncertain validity
- dodgyQuestionable in character
shifty · untrustworthy · disreputable · sleazy · seedy · crooked · underhanded · devious
Abnormally heightened awareness state
- fearfulFull of fright
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
- persecutedSubjected to hostile treatment
- obsessiveConsumed by fixation
irrational · delusional · neurotic · distrustful · jumpy · edgy · nervous · on-edge
Guardedly alert
- leeryCautiously distrustful
- mistrustfulLacking faith in others
- untrustingLacking faith in others
- cynicalDoubting human goodness
jaundiced · dubious · cagey · chary · guarded · circumspect · apprehensive · uneasy
Proving guilt or wrongdoing
- implicatedShown to be involved
- allegedClaimed but unproven
- chargedFormally accused of crime
- indictedFormally charged legally
denounced · blamed · insinuated · under investigation · questionable · culpable · complicit · fingered
Uncertain of truth
- unconvincedNot yet believing
- incredulousExpressing unwillingness to believe
- disbelievingRefusing to accept something
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
quizzical · dubious · uncertain · unsure · tentative · undecided · ambivalent · critical
fishy
Arousing doubt, colloquially
- sketchyIncomplete or suspicious
- dubiousOf uncertain reliability
- questionableOf uncertain validity
dodgy · shifty · untrustworthy · disreputable · sleazy · seedy · crooked · underhanded · devious · sneaky
hypervigilant
Abnormally heightened awareness state
- fearfulFull of fright
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
- persecutedSubjected to hostile treatment
obsessive · irrational · delusional · neurotic · distrustful · jumpy · edgy · nervous · on-edge · overwrought
wary
Guardedly alert
- leeryCautiously distrustful
- mistrustfulLacking faith in others
- untrustingLacking faith in others
cynical · jaundiced · dubious · cagey · chary · guarded · circumspect · apprehensive · uneasy · disenchanted
incriminating
Proving guilt or wrongdoing
- implicatedShown to be involved
- allegedClaimed but unproven
- chargedFormally accused of crime
indicted · denounced · blamed · insinuated · under investigation · questionable · culpable · complicit · fingered · targeted
doubtful
Uncertain of truth
- unconvincedNot yet believing
- incredulousExpressing unwillingness to believe
- disbelievingRefusing to accept something
questioning · quizzical · dubious · uncertain · unsure · tentative · undecided · ambivalent · critical · analytical
- doubtdoubt, doubts, doubting, doubtful, skepticism
- question tonescurious, skeptical, doubtful, probing, inquisitive
- Questionabledubious, shady, fishy, sketchy, iffy
- unbelievableunbelievable, incredible, inconceivable, implausible, unthinkable
- moodshappy, sad, angry, anxious, excited
- attitudespositive, negative, ambition, apathy, curiosity
suspicioustrusting
Inclined to believe others
trustful · unsuspicious · credulous · gullible · unsuspecting
suspicioustrustworthy
Worthy of confidence
above suspicion · reputable · upright · innocent · unquestionable
- under suspicionRegarded as possibly guilty
- suspicious fireFire of doubtful origin
- sneaking suspicionVague persistent doubt
- above suspicionImmune to accusation
- suspicious activityBehavior suggesting wrongdoing
- suspicious packagePotentially dangerous unidentified item