Suspect vs. Suspicious: What's the Difference?
Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on September 27, 2023
"Suspect" is a noun or verb relating to one believed to have committed a crime; "Suspicious" is an adjective describing a lack of trust or doubtfulness.
Key Differences
"Suspect" and "Suspicious" are terms with distinct grammatical roles and meanings within the English language, each serving to describe differing aspects of doubt, mistrust, or criminal association. "Suspect" can serve as both a noun and a verb, referring to an individual who is believed to have committed a crime or to the act of suspecting someone of something, respectively. On the contrary, "Suspicious" is an adjective and it pertains to the manifestation of suspicion, usually depicting doubt, mistrust, or the appearance of irregularity or abnormality.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
Examining "Suspect" more closely, it is evident that when used as a noun, it identifies an individual under suspicion, typically in relation to a crime or wrongdoing. This usage may not imply guilt but indicates that the person is subject to inquiry or investigation. In contrast, "Suspicious" delineates a state or feeling of mistrust or doubt, often prompted by appearances, behaviors, or situations that seem abnormal, irregular, or inconsistent with expectations, allowing it to describe objects, actions, or persons that provoke suspicion.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
In its verbal form, "Suspect" means to have doubts or suspicions about something or someone, reflecting a process of thought or a state of mind, allowing for a wider range of applicability, such as suspecting honesty, motives, or truthfulness. However, "Suspicious" universally conveys a state or appearance of doubt or mistrust, making it an appropriate descriptor for situations, behaviors, or appearances that seem questionable, irregular, or out of the ordinary, denoting perceived risk or uncertainty.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
Another layer of meaning for "Suspect" emerges when considering its legal context. A suspect is a specific individual believed to have committed a specific crime and is under investigation or arrest, implying a more formal and concrete association with criminal activity. Conversely, "Suspicious" is broader and more subjective, allowing for varied and individual interpretations and perceptions of what appears to be doubtful, unusual, or worthy of mistrust, often serving to justify further scrutiny, investigation, or caution.
Harlon Moss
Sep 27, 2023
Comparison Chart
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Meaning
An individual believed to have committed a crime
Describing a lack of trust or appearance of irregularity
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
Usage
Identifies an individual or the act of suspecting
Describes objects, actions, or persons that provoke suspicion
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
Suspect and Suspicious Definitions
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Suspicious
Having or showing a cautious distrust of someone or something.
He was suspicious of their motives.
Harlon Moss
Sep 27, 2023
Suspect
A person believed to have committed a crime.
The police arrested the suspect without incident.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 27, 2023
Suspicious
Causing one to have the idea or impression that something is of questionable, dishonest, or dangerous character or condition.
The suspicious package was reported to the authorities.
Janet White
Sep 27, 2023
Suspicious
Inclined to suspect, especially inclined to suspect evil.
He has a suspicious nature.
Harlon Moss
Sep 27, 2023
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Suspect
To consider (something) to be true or probable on little or no evidence
I suspect they are very disappointed.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspicious
Indicative of a lack of trust.
The clerk cast a suspicious glance at the customer.
Janet White
Sep 27, 2023
Suspicious
Arousing or apt to arouse suspicion; questionable
Suspicious behavior.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspect
To consider (a person) guilty without proof
The police suspect her of murder.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspicious
Arousing suspicion.
His suspicious behaviour brought him to the attention of the police.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspicious
Distrustful or tending to suspect.
I have a suspicious attitude to get-rich-quick schemes.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspect
(transitive) To imagine or suppose (something) to be true, or to exist, without proof.
To suspect the presence of disease
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspect
(transitive) To distrust or have doubts about (something or someone).
To suspect the truth of a story
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspicious
Inclined to suspect; given or prone to suspicion; apt to imagine without proof.
Nature itself, after it has done an injury, will ever be suspicious; and no man can love the person he suspects.
Many mischievous insects are daily at work to make men of merit suspicious of each other.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspect
(transitive) To believe (someone) to be guilty.
I suspect him of being the thief.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspicious
Indicating suspicion, mistrust, or fear.
We have a suspicious, fearful, constrained countenance.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspicious
Liable to suspicion; adapted to raise suspicion; giving reason to imagine ill; questionable; as, an author of suspicious innovations; suspicious circumstances.
I spy a black, suspicious, threatening could.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspect
A person who is suspected of something, in particular of committing a crime.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspicious
Not as expected;
There was something fishy about the accident
Up to some funny business
Some definitely queer goings-on
A shady deal
Her motives were suspect
Suspicious behavior
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspect
Suspicious; inspiring distrust.
Suspect [was] his face, suspect his word also.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspect
One who, or that which, is suspected; an object of suspicion; - formerly applied to persons and things; now, only to persons suspected of crime.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspect
To imagine to exist; to have a slight or vague opinion of the existence of, without proof, and often upon weak evidence or no evidence; to mistrust; to surmise; - commonly used regarding something unfavorable, hurtful, or wrong; as, to suspect the presence of disease.
Nothing makes a man suspect much, more than to know little; and therefore men should remedy suspicion by procuring to know more.
From her hand I could suspect no ill.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspect
To imagine to be guilty, upon slight evidence, or without proof; as, to suspect one of equivocation.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspect
To hold to be uncertain; to doubt; to mistrust; to distruct; as, to suspect the truth of a story.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspect
To imagine guilt; to have a suspicion or suspicions; to be suspicious.
If I suspect without cause, why then make sport at me.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspect
A person or institution against whom an action is brought in a court of law; the person being sued or accused
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspect
Imagine to be the case or true or probable;
I suspect he is a fugitive
I surmised that the butler did it
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspect
Regard as untrustworthy; regard with suspicion; have no faith or confidence in
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspect
Hold in suspicion; believe to be guilty;
The U.S. suspected Bin Laden as the mastermind behind the terrorist attacks
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspect
Not as expected;
There was something fishy about the accident
Up to some funny business
Some definitely queer goings-on
A shady deal
Her motives were suspect
Suspicious behavior
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 11, 2023
Suspect
To think that (someone) is guilty of a crime or of wrongdoing.
I suspect him of falsifying the records.
Harlon Moss
Sep 27, 2023
Suspect
To regard as probable; to imagine to be true.
I suspect she is unhappy.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 27, 2023
FAQs
Is "Suspicious" used to describe appearances or behaviors?
Yes, "Suspicious" describes objects, actions, or persons that seem questionable or provoke suspicion.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
Does "Suspect" as a verb mean to have doubts?
Yes, "Suspect" as a verb means to have doubts or suspicions about someone or something.
Sara Rehman
Sep 27, 2023
Is "Suspect" commonly used in legal contexts?
Yes, "Suspect" is commonly used to refer to individuals under investigation or arrest in legal contexts.
Sara Rehman
Sep 27, 2023
Can "Suspicious" be subjective and vary between individuals?
Yes, "Suspicious" is subjective and can vary based on individual perceptions and interpretations.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 27, 2023
Are "Suspect" and "Suspicious" synonymous?
No, "Suspect" can be a noun or verb, and "Suspicious" is an adjective describing doubt or mistrust.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
Can "Suspicious" relate to perceived risk?
Yes, "Suspicious" often denotes perceived risk or uncertainty.
Sara Rehman
Sep 27, 2023
Can "Suspect" be used to identify an individual?
Yes, "Suspect" as a noun refers to an individual believed to have committed a crime.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
Can "Suspicious" justify further investigation or caution?
Yes, "Suspicious" appearances or behaviors often justify further scrutiny or caution.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 27, 2023
Does "Suspicious" imply a level of awareness and attentiveness to details?
Yes, being "Suspicious" often implies a heightened level of awareness and attentiveness to potential risks or anomalies.
Janet White
Sep 27, 2023
Does "Suspect" always imply guilt?
No, a "Suspect" is under suspicion but is not proven guilty.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 27, 2023
Can situations be described as "Suspicious"?
Yes, situations, as well as behaviors and appearances, can be described as "Suspicious".
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
Is "Suspect" applicable in general and various contexts outside of legal ones?
Yes, "Suspect" can be used in various contexts to mean having doubts or suspicions about someone or something.
Harlon Moss
Sep 27, 2023
Is "Suspicious" broad in its applicability?
Yes, "Suspicious" is broad and can describe anything appearing to be of questionable nature or arousing distrust.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
Does "Suspect" have a more specific association compared to "Suspicious"?
Yes, "Suspect" often has a more specific and concrete association, especially in legal contexts, compared to the broad and subjective "Suspicious".
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
Can "Suspect" refer to the act of suspecting?
Yes, "Suspect" as a verb refers to the act of having doubts or suspicions about something or someone.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 27, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Huma SaeedHuma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.
