What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
suspiciously
Example
He looked at her suspiciously, wondering if she was telling the truth. [suspiciously: adverb]
Example
The package arrived suspiciously late, and he wondered if it had been tampered with. [suspiciously: adverb]
questionably
Example
The results of the experiment were questionably accurate, and more research was needed. [questionably: adverb]
Example
His motives for the donation were questionably altruistic, and some suspected he had ulterior motives. [questionably: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Suspiciously is more common than questionably in everyday language, especially in spoken language. However, questionably is more common in formal writing and academic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between suspiciously and questionably?
Questionably is generally considered more formal than suspiciously, and it is more appropriate to use in academic or professional writing.
