Definition

1. Noun:
   • The state or quality of being suspicious: A tendency to suspect or distrust others, often without sufficient evidence.
   • The characteristic of arousing suspicion: The quality of appearing questionable, dubious, or untrustworthy.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • His constant suspiciousness made it difficult to have an open conversation with him.
  • The suspiciousness of the transaction prompted a thorough investigation by the bank.
  • A climate of mutual suspiciousness can poison a relationship.

Advanced Usage

• "with an air of suspiciousness": behaving in a manner that shows distrust.
  • She regarded the stranger's offer with an air of suspiciousness.
• "to breed suspiciousness": to cause distrust to develop.
  • The lack of transparency in the process bred widespread suspiciousness among the members.

Variants and Related Words

• Suspicious (adj): Having or showing a cautious distrust of someone or something; causing one to have the idea or impression that something is wrong.
  • She gave him a suspicious glance.
• Suspicion (n): A feeling or thought that something is possible, likely, or true, especially something wrong or harmful; a very slight trace.
  • I had a suspicion that he wasn't telling the truth.

Synonyms

• Distrust: The feeling that someone or something cannot be relied upon.
• Wariness: Caution about possible dangers or problems.
• Mistrust: Lack of trust or confidence; suspicion.
• Dubiousness: The state of being hesitating or doubting.

Antonyms

• Trust: Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.
• Credulity: A tendency to be too ready to believe that something is real or true.
• Gullibility: Easily persuaded to believe something; credulous.

Related Phrases

• Arouse suspiciousness: To cause feelings of distrust to emerge.
  • The sudden change in his story aroused the detective's suspiciousness.
• Overcome suspiciousness: To successfully move past feelings of distrust.
  • It took years of honest cooperation to overcome their initial suspiciousness.

Noun

1. being of a suspicious nature
   • his suspiciousness destroyed his marriage