DISTRUSTFUL Synonyms: 103 Similar and Opposite Words

distrustful

adjective

(ˌ)dis-ˈtrəs(t)-fəl

Definition of distrustful

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 In such a distrustful environment, everything that should be pure or holy or human is crushed under the weight of a state only interested in its own self-perpetuation. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2026 Current employes may also become distrustful and less loyal as a result. — Michelle Travis, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026 Manufacturers are pushing ahead with AI, but workers often feel unprepared, uncertain, and distrustful. — Rushda Afzal, Harvard Business Review, 22 May 2026 People are distrustful of public health. — Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for distrustful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for distrustful

Adjective

Deeply skeptical of his diplomatic attempts with Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could view the president’s comments as an opening to continue operations both in Lebanon, against Hezbollah, or in Iran itself.

— Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
As recently as last year, the bank’s executives were skeptical that ventures known for such voracious capital spending would be able to sustain their business models.

— Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 July 2026

Definition of skeptical

Adjective

Essentially, markets believe that interest rates will rise in 2026 but are unsure of both the magnitude and timing.

— Simon Moore, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Engineers are unsure of the condition of Swift’s thermal insulation, and ground controllers will take a cautious approach to determining where and when Link’s robotic arms can capture the satellite.

— Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2026

Definition of unsure

Adjective

Nile finds himself in a cat-and-mouse dynamic with his new neighbor (Claire Danes), an author in search of her next book subject who is suspicious of his innocence.

— Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
But by playing coy about next steps, Hamas has given observers and critics plenty of reasons to be suspicious about this latest development.

— Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 8 July 2026

Definition of suspicious

Adjective

Harvard Health has taken a critical look at Apollo Neuro, and Medscape has warned about uncertain efficacy in at-home vagus stimulation devices.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2026
At the edge of an uncertain frontier, the founders organized people, knowledge, and governance in a way that could survive the unknown.

— Ashok N. Srivastava, Fortune, 3 July 2026

Definition of uncertain

Adjective

Consumer confidence ticked up in June after weeks of anxiety tied to the conflict, though people remain cautious as worries about jobs and prices persist.

— David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 4 July 2026
Gymshark’s growth has slowed as competition has intensified and consumers have become more cautious about spending.

— Robert Olsen, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Definition of cautious

Adjective

In the Epistle to the Galatians, Paul strains to show that the Gentile mission and the Jerusalem mission, though carried out by mutually mistrustful parties, belong to a single divine design.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
People are mistrustful of government at all levels right now, according to Larson.

— R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026

Definition of mistrustful

Adjective

When an accident brings the enigmatic Gaia into their lives, unexpected desires begin to take shape, unsettling the careful balance that has long defined their relationship.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 July 2026
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.

— CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of careful

Browse Nearby Words

distrusted

distrustful

distrustfully

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“Distrustful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distrustful. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of distrustful

adjective

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