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
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Noun
As Congo struggles with conflict, distrust and aid shortfalls, Uganda warns citizens to avoid crowds even for soccer celebrations. Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026 Even in the months leading up to the runoff vote, Peru continued to experience rapid leadership turnover, political infighting, and lingering public distrust. Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 May 2026
Verb
Many Americans feared and distrusted the idea of a standing army into the first half of the nineteenth century. Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 25 May 2026 But the populist wing of the left distrusts her commitment largely because of her association with the Democratic Party establishment. Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 22 May 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 1 Jun. 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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