mistrustful

mistrustful

adjective

Definition of MISTRUSTFUL

1

inclined to doubt or question claims <we were mistrustful of the so-called “miracle cure” for obesity>

Synonyms disbelieving, distrustful, doubting, incredulous, mistrustful, negativistic, questioning, show-me, suspecting, suspicious, unbelieving

Related Words paranoid (also paranoidal); critical, puzzled, quizzical; careful, cautious, guarded, gun-shy, leery (also leary), wary, watchful; cynical, experienced, knowing, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise; curious, inquiring, inquisitive, nosy (or nosey), snoopy; uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, undetermined, unsettled, unsure; hesitant

Near Antonyms green, ingenuous, innocent, naive (or naïve), simple, simpleminded, unknowing, unsophisticated, unworldly, wide-eyed; certain, confident, positive, sure; callow, inexperienced, raw; childlike, idealistic, impractical; beguiled, deceived, duped, gulled, tricked; careless, heedless, unsuspecting, unsuspicious, unwary

Antonyms credulous, gullible (also gullable), trustful, trusting, uncritical, unquestioning

2

not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something <inhabitants of that remote community tend to be mistrustful of outsiders>

Synonyms distrustful, dubious, hinky [slang], mistrustful, skeptical, suspicious, trustless, uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, unsettled, unsure

Related Words ambivalent, conflicted, equivocal; diffident, insecure; halting, hesitant, indecisive, irresolute, vacillating, wavering

Near Antonyms assured, confident, sanguine, self-assured; decisive, determined, resolute

Antonyms certain, convinced, positive, sure