distrust

1 of 2

noun

dis·​trust (ˌ)dis-ˈtrəst How to pronounce distrust (audio)
Synonyms of distrustnext
: the lack or absence of trust

distrust

2 of 2

verb

distrusted; distrusting; distrusts

transitive verb

: to have no trust or confidence in

Examples of distrust in a Sentence

Noun He has a distrust of doctors. the psychic's bold claims were greeted with distrust and outright scorn Verb She's always distrusted their promises. we instinctively distrust those phone calls that tell us we have won a free vacation or car
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.
Noun
Beirut residents expressed doubt and distrust when they were asked about direct negotiations between the Lebanese government and Israel. Phil Helsel, NBC news, 14 Apr. 2026 Visibility is crucial, in other words, but is very difficult to obtain if the parties don’t trust one another—and traditional supply contracts tend to promote distrust. Sarah Dadush, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
About the same share, 34%, distrusted it, and another 33% neither trusted it nor distrusted it. Linley Sanders, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026 The bears will go back to citing narrow leadership as a reason to distrust the bullish trend. Todd Gordon, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for distrust

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1532, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1548, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of distrust was circa 1532

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Distrust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distrust. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

distrust

1 of 2 verb
dis·​trust (ˈ)dis-ˈtrəst How to pronounce distrust (audio)
: to have no trust or confidence in

distrust

2 of 2 noun
: a lack of trust or confidence
distrustful
-fəl
adjective
distrustfully
-fə-lē
adverb
distrustfulness noun

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