1
as in skeptical
inclined to doubt or question claims
she was distrustful of her boyfriend's claim of having saved the kitten from a raging fire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unsure
not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something
naturally distrustful of politicians who claim to have all the answers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of distrustful
Conservatives in the country are distrustful of China and see Lee as too friendly with the powerful neighbor.
—
Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 June 2025
During Trump’s first term, his negotiator, Stephen Biegun, struggled to get face time with his North Korean counterparts, who were deeply distrustful of Trump’s advisers.
—John Delury, Foreign Affairs, 3 June 2025
Patrick is willing to do anything to help his wife but becomes distrustful of Ella-Rose even as Abigail falls under her spell.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2025
Over time, the person on the receiving end becomes distrustful of you.
—Tessa West, Contributor, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distrustful
Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 June 2025
During Trump’s first term, his negotiator, Stephen Biegun, struggled to get face time with his North Korean counterparts, who were deeply distrustful of Trump’s advisers.
—John Delury, Foreign Affairs, 3 June 2025
Patrick is willing to do anything to help his wife but becomes distrustful of Ella-Rose even as Abigail falls under her spell.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2025
Over time, the person on the receiving end becomes distrustful of you.
—Tessa West, Contributor, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distrustful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distrustful
Adjective
-
Some employees are skeptical of the AI, especially following a Bloomberg report in January that predicted up to 200,000 jobs on Wall Street could be at risk within five years due to technologies like AI.—
Chris Morris,
Fortune,
24 June 2025
-
But some, including former Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Braxton Winston, remain skeptical about whether the current bill will lay the groundwork for a successful regional system.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
The outfit is unsure about the root cause of the problem and has launched an investigation to prevent a similar incident.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 June 2025
-
Often, players look unsure of team-mates’ positions and can consequently concede possession in dangerous situations.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
Adjective
-
Avoid suspicious links and install strong antivirus protection: Crocodilus spreads through deceptive ads and fake app links.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2025
-
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but state fire officials said Wednesday a preliminary investigation found no suspicious cause.—
Todd Prussman,
Boston Herald,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
To be sure, the uncertain economy could weigh on consumer spending in the near term, impacting online purchases.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
25 June 2025
-
Overall, the challenges highlighted by business leaders included uncertain economic conditions (55 percent), tariffs (41 percent), and revenue and sales growth (41 percent).—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
The prospect of higher inflation even as present data looks mild has led to a staredown between the Fed, which has advocated for a cautious approach on cutting interest rates in case tariffs do worsen inflation, and Trump, who has aggressively called for big cuts.—
Derek Saul,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
-
That’s a problem for investors, who regard Powell as a serious, cautious economist who operates independently of Trump’s political desires.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
26 June 2025
Adjective
-
For most, wealth results from years of hard work, careful planning, and disciplined saving.—
Georgette Virgo,
USA Today,
19 June 2025
-
However, be careful of blurring the distinction between professional and personal relationships.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distrustful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distrustful. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share