unsuspecting

adjective

un·​sus·​pect·​ing ˌən-sə-ˈspek-tiŋ How to pronounce unsuspecting (audio)
Synonyms of unsuspectingnext
: unaware of any danger or threat : not suspecting
unsuspecting victims
unsuspectingly adverb

Synonyms of unsuspecting

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of unsuspecting in a Sentence

sidewalk vendors selling bogus gems to unsuspecting tourists
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Then, on one unsuspecting evening in October, Kylie Jenner revived the spectacle in the most expensive Fantasy Bra to date. — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2026 The fact that there is someone out there who could actually get all the real unsuspecting morons who participated in this movie to sign off on it afterwards is simply astonishing considering what they are asked to do in it. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026 Into the abyss walks the most unsuspecting of would-be heroes. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026 As Cohen is best known for playing characters like Ali G, Borat and Brüno in the real world while interacting with unsuspecting people, the interview focuses on the craft behind his brand of undercover comedy and the objectives of his satire. — Selome Hailu, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unsuspecting

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unsuspecting was in 1595

Rhymes for unsuspecting

See All Rhymes for unsuspecting

Browse Nearby Words

unsuspectedness
unsuspecting
unsuspectingly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unsuspecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsuspecting. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All