Use sus to label someone or something that seems shady, especially in gaming or meme contexts.
Use sus to label someone or something that seems shady, especially in gaming or meme contexts.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| He is sused for the crime. | He is sus for the crime. |
| She looks more sus than usual. | She looks sus. |
| I think the sus is innocent. | I think the suspect is innocent. |
Use sus as a noun for someone who is being investigated or considered doubtful.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| He is a sus of the crime. | He is a suspect of the crime. |
| She is very sus. | She looks sus. |
| The sus was innocent. | The suspect was innocent. |
Use sus for describing something or someone that seems shady, and as a noun for a person who is suspected, especially in informal online contexts.
Dropping the -y, speakers often write sus where suspicious is intended, or misuse it as a verb.
Originating as a shortening of 'suspicious' in online gaming chat, it spread through internet culture and memes.
What does sus mean in gaming slang?
sus is short for suspicious and describes a player or action that seems untrustworthy or deceptive.
Can sus be used as a noun?
Yes, sus can refer to a suspect—someone who is thought to have done something wrong.
Is sus appropriate in formal writing?
No, sus is informal internet slang and should be avoided in formal or academic contexts.
Where did the slang sus originate?
It began as a shorthand in online gaming chat, especially around the game Among Us, and then spread across social media.
How do you form the comparative of sus?
Speakers often say more sus; there is no irregular comparative form.
Is sus related to the word suspect?
Both derive from the same root; sus shortens suspicious, while suspect is the noun for a person under suspicion.
Why do people say "that's sus"?
They use it to flag something that feels doubtful, sketchy, or potentially dishonest.
What are common mistakes when using sus?
People sometimes add a verb ending (sused) or use it where suspicious is required, and they may confuse the adjective with the noun form.