suspicion

UK /səˈspɪʃ.ən/ US /səˈspɪʃ.ən/

noun 5verb 1

Definitions

noun

The act of suspecting something or someone, especially of something wrong.

[…]purſued his vnneighbourly purpoſe in ſuch ſort: that hee being the ſtronger perſwader, and ſhe (belike) too credulous in beleeuing or elſe ouer-feeble in reſiſting, from priuate imparlance, they fell to action; and continued their cloſe fight a long while together, vnſeene and vvithout ſuſpition, no doubt to their equall ioy and contentment.

His unruly hair was slicked down with water, and as Jessamy introduced him to Miss Brindle his face assumed a cherubic innocence which would immediately have aroused the suspicions of anyone who knew him.

The condition of being suspected.

Uncertainty, doubt.

In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle, a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening, for a pipe and a cheerful glass.[…]Strangers might enter the room, but they were made to feel that they were there on sufferance: they were received with distance and suspicion.

A trace, or slight indication.

a suspicion of a smile

The features are mild but expressive, with just a suspicion[…]of saturnine or sarcastic humor.

The imagining of something without evidence.

verb

To suspect; to have suspicions.

“Well, what’s more dangerous than coming here in the day time!—anybody would suspicion us that saw us.”

Mulvaney continued— "Whin I was full awake the palanquin was set down in a street, I suspicioned, for I cud hear people passin' an' talkin'. But I knew well I was far from home. […]

Collocations

(noun.) belief that sb has done sth wrong or that sth is true

ADJ

strong

We have a strong suspicion that our neighbor's dog ate our homework yesterday.

the slightest, vague

She had only a vague suspicion that her colleague was unhappy with the project.

awful, dark, horrible, nagging, nasty, sneaking, terrible, worst

I had a sneaking suspicion that my brother had eaten the last slice of cake.

lingering

growing

groundless, unfounded

The police investigated the complaint, but their suspicions proved unfounded.

widespread

initial

VERB + SUSPICION

entertain, harbour, have

The detective began to harbour suspicions about the witness's alibi after finding inconsistencies in her story.

be/come/fall under

The new employee came under suspicion when money went missing from the office safe.

arouse, cast, cause, create, fuel, give rise to, invite, raise, sow

His sudden resignation raised suspicion among the company's board members.

avoid

confide, share

He shared his suspicions about the new manager with his closest colleagues at work.

confirm, justify

The DNA evidence justified the detective's suspicions about the suspect's guilt.

realize

allay, dispel

The manager provided detailed financial records to dispel suspicions about the missing funds.

SUSPICION + VERB

exist

A suspicion existed that my neighbor was letting his dog into my garden at night.

linger, remain

grow

attach to sb, fall on sb

When the money went missing, suspicion fell on the new accountant immediately.

PREP

above/beyond ~

The judge's integrity was so well-established that she remained above suspicion throughout her career.

on ~ of

The man was detained on suspicion of stealing from the local supermarket.

~ about/as to/concerning

She had serious suspicions about whether her coworker was telling the truth.

~ against

There have been growing suspicions against the new manager since the money went missing.

PHRASES

the finger of suspicion

The finger of suspicion fell on the new employee after money went missing from the office.

grounds for suspicion

Her sudden nervousness gave us grounds for suspicion that she was hiding something important.

an object of suspicion

The new employee became an object of suspicion after money went missing from the office.

under a cloud of suspicion

The former accountant left the company under a cloud of suspicion after the audit discovered missing funds.

(noun.) absence of trust

ADJ

considerable, deep, grave, great

mutual

After the argument, mutual suspicion grew between the two business partners.

VERB + SUSPICION

regard/treat/view sb/sth with

The local residents treated the construction project with suspicion because no one had explained its purpose.

(noun.) small amount of sth

ADJ

faint, slightest

I had the slightest suspicion that my brother was hiding something from me.

PREP

~ of

She felt a growing suspicion of his motives when he kept asking about her work.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — being of a suspicious nature

suspiciousness

noun — doubt about someone's honesty

misgiving
mistrust
distrust

noun — an impression that something might be the case

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

sneaking suspicion

A premonition, or hunch; a belief based on little evidence.

I have the sneaking suspicion that he has already taken a decision about this.

Caesar's wife must be above suspicion

Those in positions of authority should avoid even the implication of impropriety.

Example Bank

Wiktionary

His unruly hair was slicked down with water, and as Jessamy introduced him to Miss Brindle his face assumed a cherubic innocence which would immediately have aroused the suspicions of anyone who knew

Wiktionary

"When it comes to strangers with guns," I told her, "I think suspicion is more likely to keep you alive than trust."

Wiktionary

“Well, what’s more dangerous than coming here in the day time!—anybody would suspicion us that saw us.”

Wiktionary

Mulvaney continued— "Whin I was full awake the palanquin was set down in a street, I suspicioned, for I cud hear people passin' an' talkin'. But I knew well I was far from home. […]

Wiktionary

"I've been suspicioning here was where they got their information right along," the sheriff commented, and slipped the handcuffs on the landlord.

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

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