variants also intrust
Definition of entrustnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word entrust distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of entrust are commit, confide, consign, and relegate. While all these words mean "to assign to a person or place for a definite purpose," entrust implies committing with trust and confidence.

the president is entrusted with broad powers

When is it sensible to use commit instead of entrust?

The meanings of commit and entrust largely overlap; however, commit may express the general idea of delivering into another's charge or the special sense of transferring to a superior power or to a special place of custody.

committed the felon to prison

In what contexts can confide take the place of entrust?

In some situations, the words confide and entrust are roughly equivalent. However, confide implies entrusting with great assurance or reliance.

confided complete control of my affairs to my attorney

When can consign be used instead of entrust?

While the synonyms consign and entrust are close in meaning, consign suggests removing from one's control with formality or finality.

consigned the damaging notes to the fire

When is relegate a more appropriate choice than entrust?

The words relegate and entrust can be used in similar contexts, but relegate implies a consigning to a particular class or sphere often with a suggestion of getting rid of.

relegated to an obscure position in the company

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of entrust Nun-novice and anti-gun violence activist Nanette, 35, has been carrying her mother’s secret for five years, not knowing whether one or both of her sisters had been entrusted with it too. Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026 My teenage aunts, entrusted with the care of thousands of white larvae feasting on lush, thick mulberry leaves, had to get up in the middle of the night to scatter more leaves into the trays. Jonathan Flint, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026 The veteran comic likens the creative control he’s been granted to a second-string quarterback being entrusted to lead the team. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 1 Sep. 2026 District 203 is entrusted with hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer resources. Jennifer Bruzan Taylor, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for entrust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entrust
Verb
  • Haitian officials tasked with receiving 82 migrants, including children, deported from the United States were forced to scramble Thursday after what was supposed to be a routine Immigration and Customs Enforcement charter flight turned chaotic.
    Gérard Maxineau, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The pair are tasked with bringing public spending and borrowing under control, with sticky inflation, elevated government borrowing costs and lackluster economic growth adding to the urgency of balancing the books.
    Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Recent polling handed Sand a slight edge over Lahn, with Emerson College Polling showing a 49%-46% split in the Democrat’s favor.
    Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 8 Sep. 2026
  • For more than a decade, the internet handed entrepreneurs a remarkable shortcut.
    Richard McSweeney, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Was hearing Roland Hayes and, in time, other inspiring artists sing Schubert, Brahms, and Schumann songs like being beckoned by a musical brook to trust her instincts and follow its unlikely path?
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Require Post-View Engagement Before Crediting Placements Stop trusting impression counts alone.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • That leaves Christina Koch as the only crew member still on the active astronaut rolls.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Giffords was shot during an assassination attempt in 2011 but has stayed active in politics since leaving Congress.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • In the event of an incident, the current system requires a medical team to reach the driver after an incident, make an assessment and then transfer him to the medical center.
    Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • So the little zip zip of the print head inside is actually heating up the dye ribbon in the cartridge and transferring over a layer of color at a time.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Neither Moscow nor Kyiv give regular updates on their battlefield losses.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
  • Our affiliates in Texas would have to give equal time to as many candidates as there are on the ballot, and there’s about 10 candidates on the ballot.
    Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Western philanthropists, on the other hand, are surrounded by mature civil-society groups, and so are more content to just deliver funding through grants.
    Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2026
  • They are managed by Francesco Farioli, an up-and-coming young Italian coach who has instilled an attractive style of play and delivered their first Portuguese league title since 2022.
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • His willingness to relinquish power set a powerful precedent for American leadership that resonated far beyond our state’s borders.
    Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Atlanta never relinquished the lead and eliminated the Sixers.
    Jason Jones, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Entrust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entrust. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster