adjectiveadverb

verdächtig

suspicious · suspiciously

Etwas oder jemand wirkt so, als könnte er etwas Verbotenes oder Falsches getan haben.

Definition & meaning

The word verdächtig is primarily used as an adjective or adverb in German. It describes something or someone that arouses suspicion, appears questionable, or seems to be involved in something illegal or dishonest.

Suspicious or Fishy: It refers to a situation, behavior, or object that does not seem right or suggests that something hidden or bad is happening. For example, a "verdächtiges Geräusch" is a suspicious noise.
Under Suspicion: It can describe a person who is believed to have committed a crime or an offense. In legal contexts, a "Verdächtiger" is a suspect.
Remarkable or Unusual: In a more colloquial or ironic sense, it can describe something that is so unusual that it draws attention, such as "verdächtig ruhig" (suspiciously quiet).

Grammar & Word origin

verdächtig is an adjective. It can be used predicatively (Das ist verdächtig) or attributively (ein verdächtiger Mann).

The word is derived from the noun der Verdacht , which means "suspicion." The noun itself comes from the verb verdenken . The suffix -ig is a common German ending used to turn nouns into adjectives, signifying that something possesses the quality of the base noun.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

suspekt : Used to describe something that feels untrustworthy or shady.
zweifelhaft : Meaning "doubtful" or "dubious."
fragwürdig : Meaning "questionable" or "shady."
dubios : Often used for shady business dealings or suspicious characters.
unseriös : Specifically used when someone or something lacks professional integrity or reliability.

Antonyms

unverdächtig : The direct opposite, meaning "not suspicious."
glaubwürdig : Meaning "credible" or "believable."
vertrauenswürdig : Meaning "trustworthy."
unbescholten : Used to describe someone with a clean record or blameless reputation.