distrust

1 of 2

noun

dis·​trust (ˌ)dis-ˈtrəst 

: the lack or absence of trust

distrust

2 of 2

verb

distrusted; distrusting; distrusts

transitive verb

: to have no trust or confidence in

Synonyms

Noun

• distrustfulness
• doubt
• dubiety
• dubitation [archaic]
• incertitude
• misdoubt
• misgiving
• mistrust
• mistrustfulness
• query
• reservation
• skepticism
• suspicion
• uncertainty

Verb

• doubt
• misdoubt
• mistrust
• question
• suspect

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

Noun

Over-promising breeds distrust, and lowballing harms growth. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025

Tesla products have a place in the market, but there's a tangible distrust, skepticism, and hatred for its CEO expressed by many Americans. —Charles Singh, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025

Verb

Over time, this disconnects them from their inner emotional world and teaches them to distrust their own instincts. —Reem Raouda, CNBC, 26 Apr. 2025

The conversations follow years of strained, distrusting relations between the U.S. and Iran, which intensified after President Donald Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) during his first term. —Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1513, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1548, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing distrust

• self-distrust

Rhymes for distrust

• adjust
• combust
• discussed
• disgust
• entrust
• intrust
• mistrust
• nonplussed
• robust
• sawdust
• stardust
• unjust

Kids 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

-fəl

adjective

distrustfully

-fə-lē

adverb

distrustfulness noun