distrusted; distrusting; distrusts
: 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
Jessica Schreifels, CNN Money, 18 Dec. 2025
But his second-term actions have set a new precedent for the level of mutual distrust and its consequences for scientists.
—Kenneth M. Evans, The Conversation, 17 Dec. 2025
Anne P. Deprince, The Conversation, 17 Dec. 2025
The essay moves through three parts, from an opening scene of conflict to a middle section that narrates how Didion gradually grew to distrust police, and onto a last section that reflects on the crumbling of police authority and credibility.
—Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distrust
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Noun
Dismissed by the medical establishment, this movement has nevertheless built momentum as distrust in government and medical systems grew after the coronavirus pandemic.
—Jessica Schreifels, CNN Money, 18 Dec. 2025
But his second-term actions have set a new precedent for the level of mutual distrust and its consequences for scientists.
—Kenneth M. Evans, The Conversation, 17 Dec. 2025
Verb
Betrayal trauma often leads to shame, self-blame and fear and can leave survivors alienated from and distrusting of others.
—Anne P. Deprince, The Conversation, 17 Dec. 2025
The essay moves through three parts, from an opening scene of conflict to a middle section that narrates how Didion gradually grew to distrust police, and onto a last section that reflects on the crumbling of police authority and credibility.
—Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distrust
Cite this Entry
“Distrust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distrust. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
distrust
1 of 2 verb
dis·trust
(ˈ)dis-ˈtrəst 
: to have no trust or confidence in
distrust
2 of 2 noun
: a lack of trust or confidence
distrustful
adjective
-fəl
distrustfully
adverb
-fə-lē
distrustfulness
noun
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