Word
suspiciously
Phoneticssus·pi·cious·ly, stress on the second syllable
US/səˈspɪʃəsɫi/
UK/səspˈɪʃəsli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. in a way that makes you feel like something is wrong or that someone is lying. You use this when someone's behavior or a situation seems strange and untrustworthy.
adv. in a manner that suggests guilt, dishonesty, or something wrong; alternatively, used to describe a state that arouses doubt or mistrust in others.
Examples
“The man was looking suspiciously at the locked door.”
“The car was parked suspiciously close to the bank entrance with the engine still running.”
“Although the witness claimed to be at home during the incident, her suspiciously detailed account of the weather suggested she had rehearsed her alibi.”
Examples
simple
“The man was looking suspiciously at the locked door.”
contextual
“The car was parked suspiciously close to the bank entrance with the engine still running.”
complex
“Although the witness claimed to be at home during the incident, her suspiciously detailed account of the weather suggested she had rehearsed her alibi.”
Usage
Typically follows the verb it modifies, though it can appear in the sentence-initial position to set a tone of doubt for the entire clause.
Real-World Examples
“Only then did Parkinson notice a suspiciously clean, straight wound on the back of the caiman's head, possibly caused by a blow from a speeding boat, he suspects.” “Relatives also told Essex police that he was behaving suspiciously and they believed he was guilty.” Etymology
From suspicious + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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