Do you know the definition of sus? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word sus, including its definition, usage, word origin, and more!
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Kevin
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July 26, 2021
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What does the word sus mean?
According to Merriam-Webster and Urban Dictionary, the word sus is a slang word that is used as an abbreviation or shortening of suspect or suspicious. It can also refer to a certain genus of mammals from the type of the family Suidae. In former classifications, this was comprised of most of the swine globally. Nowadays, it is restricted to a small collection of Eurasian and East Indian forms and the domestic breeds such as the bearded pig, crested pig and wild boar.
What are synonyms and antonyms of sus?
Sus is a slang term for the word suspicious. Therefore, sus and suspicious will have the same synonyms. Synonyms and words and phrases that have the same meaning or definition and can be used interchangeably. Learning synonyms is a great way to expand your vocabulary and avoid repeating yourself. This list of synonyms of suspicious is provided by Thesaurus.
- doubtful
- uncommon
- shady
- funny
- reaching
- open to doubt
- shaky
- debatable
- suspect
- farfetched
- won’t wash
- open
- not kosher
- borderline
- too much
- rings untrue
- dubious
- unsure
- overt
- peculiar
- disputable
- open to question
- different
- problematic
- unusual
- queer
- out of line
- equivocal
- questionable
- doubtable
- phony
- fishy
- irregular
- uncertain
There are also numerous different words that mean the opposite of sus. These opposite words are called antonyms, which are another quick and easy way to expand your vocabulary. This list of antonyms is also provided by Thesaurus.
- reliable
- honest-to-god
- trusty
- possible
- impressive
- creditable
- probable
- acceptable
- up front
- reasonable
- trustworthy
- persuasive
- convincing
- believable
- conceivable
- tried
- colorable
- presumptive
- rational
- straight
- plausible
- authentic
- imaginable
- fiduciary
- presumable
- credential
- credible
- tenable
- aboveboard
- supposable
- unquestionable
- likely
- satisfying
What is the origin of the word sus?
The word sus is a shorthand form of the word suspicious. Suspicious has been sued since mid-c14, according to Etymonline. This comes from the Old French sospecious, from Latin suspiciosus and suspitiosus. This comes from the stem of suspicere, meaning to look up at. One can form the related words suspiciously (adv.) and suspiciousness (n.) by adding the suffixes ly and ness.
As far as the popularity of the term sus goes, the video game Among Us which has become extremely popular due to numerous different Twitch streamers, has brought this term into a second wave of popularity. Players of the game use the shorthand sus to call out the player who they believe is the impostor, or the person who is trying to kill the rest of the crew.
According to Inverse, the term sus began as police jargon used in England and Wales in the 1930s to refer to the discovery of crucial evidence or information. This led to the term “to suss out,” which is still used colloquially today. In 1824, something called the “sus law” was enacted in Great Britain. This gave British law enforcement the power to search and arrest people who they believed were suspicious, for not good reason. The cops had to believe that the person was in violation of the Vagrancy Act of 1824, which only required the police force to establish that a person was a “suspected person” who had intent to commit an arrestable offense. This disproportionately targeted people of color and had no impact on crime throughout England. This law and subsequent descrimination were a major factor in starting the 1981 Brixton riot in London when thousands of protestors clashed with the Metropolitan Police. It was repealed in 1981, but similar laws were enacted and are still felt today in the British political climate.
The earliest Urban Dictionary definition of sus comes from 2003, and it has risen in popularity via social media platforms like Facebook, Tik Tok, Snapchat, Reddit, and especially Twitter as a piece of internet algn. While people may think that this term came from the game Among Us, it has a storied – and sus – past.
How can the word sus be used in a sentence?
The word sus can be used in many casual sentences in the English language. Using words in a sentence is a great way to memorize their definitions. You can also try making a quiz or flashcards for yourself to test your knowledge. Try using this word of the day in an informal sentence today! Below are several examples of sus to get you started!
Jamie said she was five months pregnant and due in August. But if she was five months, that would mean she was really due in September. Something seems sus. When did her husband get deployed? I’m wondering if she’s covering up a secret.
The documentary was up for an award in the entertainment category, which made fans feel sus about whether it was spreading legit information or not. They believed that if it was a true story, it would have been entered in the journalism category for the summer film festival.
I get so frustrated when people seem sus about my sexual orientation – my sexuality is my business and no one else’s, and I don’t need people commenting their views on it. I should just not tell people.
Overall, the word sus is most commonly used as an internet slang on Twitter and TikTok for suspicious or suspect. This word has become repopularized by the game Among Us, in which one can accuse another crewmate of being “sus” as a primary function in the digital edition of the game. This word has a Latin root.
Sources:
- SUSPICIOUS Synonyms: 91 Synonyms & Antonyms for SUSPICIOUS | Thesaurus
- BELIEVABLE Synonyms: 43 Synonyms & Antonyms for BELIEVABLE | Thesaurus
- suspicious | Origin and meaning of suspicious | Online Etymology Dictionary
- Everyone’s favorite ‘Among Us’ catchphrase has a controversial past | Inverse
- Sus | Urban Dictionary
- Sus | Definition of Sus | Merriam-Webster
