Suspicion is a noun referring to a feeling that something may be wrong or a belief that someone may be involved in wrongdoing, often without full evidence. It denotes doubt or mistrust that prompts careful questioning or investigation. It can also describe the state of being suspected or suspected of a particular act.
"Her sudden absence aroused suspicion, and the manager asked for an explanation."
"There was enough suspicion about the account to warrant a full audit."
"The detective followed his suspicions to uncover the truth."
"She spoke with calm suspicion, questioning every detail of the tale."
Suspicion comes from the Latin suspicionem, from suspicere ‘to look up, mistrust,’ which itself derives from sub- ‘under, up to’ + specere ‘to look at’ (the root of spec, see). The term entered English via Old French, with early senses tied to looking with doubt or distrust. Over centuries, it broadened from a momentary feeling of doubt to a formal sense of being suspected in wrongdoing. By the 15th-16th centuries, “suspicion” carried both internal feelings of doubt and external implications like legal suspicion or accusation. The word’s core concept has consistently revolved around wary scrutiny and lack of full confidence, but nuanced shifts reflect shifts in legal and social trust, as well as psychological interpretations of doubt. In modern usage, suspicion often implies prudent hesitancy or a cautious belief rather than proven fact, while retaining its original impulse toward examining or questioning a situation or person.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Suspicion" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Suspicion" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Suspicion"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Sus-pi-tion is pronounced /səˈspɪʃən/. The primary stress is on the second syllable: suh-SPISH-uhn. Start with a relaxed schwa in the first syllable, then the short i as in ‘kit’ for the second, and finish with a light schwa plus n. Tip: ensure the /sp/ cluster is crisp and avoid turning the final -tion into a separate strong syllable. Audio reference: consult dictionaries with US/UK variants for listening support.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (putting it on the first syllable: SUS-PI-cion) and vocalizing the final -tion as a full syllable /-ʃən/ instead of a reduced /-ən/. Also, learners may merge the /spɪ/ into a single vague sound, or elongate syllables due to over-enunciating the -tion. Correction: keep the primary stress on the second syllable /səˈspɪʃən/, make /sp/ crisp, and use a quiet, quick -ən at the end.
In US, UK, and AU, the word remains /səˈspɪʃən/ with similar vowel quality, but rhotics influence the preceding vowel sometimes: US speakers may have a slightly more rhotic quality in the first syllable due to /ɚ/ tendencies in rapid speech. Vowel length is brief in all, with a clear /ɪ/ in the second syllable. The main variation is tempo and stress realization in connected speech; non-rhotic accents may drop post-vocalic r only where applicable, but this word lacks r influence.
Key challenges are the two subtle vowel cues: the first syllable is a reduced schwa /ə/ that may be under-articulated, and the second syllable contains the clipped /ɪ/ in /spɪ/. The -tion ending often becomes a quick /ʃən/ or /ən/ depending on speaker, which can blur the syllable boundary. Mastery requires crisp /sp/ onset, accurate /ɪ/ placement, and a light, fast /ən/ tail. Practice with minimal pairs to stabilize /spɪ/ and the final reduced syllable.
A distinctive feature is the tight /sp/ cluster transitioning into /ɪ/ within a two-beat stress pattern: s-uh-SPISH-uhn. The challenge is preventing the first unstressed syllable from stealing attention from the stressed second syllable; keep the /ə/ light, then deliver /ˈspɪ/ clearly, and finish with a quick /ʃən/ or /ən/. This combination is what sets Suspicion apart in fluency drills.
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