Desconfiado vs. suspicaz

The Spanish words 'desconfiado' and 'suspicaz' both relate to the feeling of suspicion or distrust, but they are used slightly differently.

Desconfiado

'Desconfiado' refers to someone who tends not to trust others, often due to previous experiences. It conveys a general inclination towards distrust.
Él es muy desconfiado y siempre piensa que la gente tiene malas intenciones.
(He is very distrustful and always thinks people have bad intentions.)
Después de ser engañada varias veces, se volvió desconfiada.
(After being deceived multiple times, she became distrustful.)
Los niños desconfiados a menudo tienen dificultades para hacer amigos.
(Distrustful children often have difficulties making friends.)

Suspicaz

'Suspicaz' can be seen as a more active form of suspicion. This indicates that the person is actively suspecting something or someone specific. It tends to be based on perceived signs or evidence.
La policía se mostró suspicaz cuando el hombre no pudo explicar por qué estaba en la zona del crimen.
(The police were suspicious when the man could not explain why he was in the crime scene area.)
Siempre es suspicaz cuando su hermano le ofrece ayuda.
(He is always suspicious when his brother offers him help.)
Su comportamiento evasivo hizo que fuera suspicaz.
(His evasive behaviour made her suspicious.)

Summary

'Desconfiado' and 'suspicaz' both refer to a sense of suspicion or distrust, but they are used in different contexts. 'Desconfiado' has a more general application and refers to an inherent trait of distrustfulness, often due to past experiences. On the other hand, 'suspicaz' relates to an active form of suspicion usually linked with specific evidence or situations.