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 The 72-year-old’s popularity boomed during the pandemic, when his insistence that COVID vaccines were dangerous and his opposition to lockdown restrictions attracted many Americans distrustful of government policy. — CNN Money, 16 July 2026 Fearful of invading marauders, humankind has turned distrustful and stingy, ignoring Zeus’ command to show generosity toward the poor and foreign-born, a cornerstone of faith that would later be repurposed in the New Testament. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026 The monthslong investigation into Guthrie's abduction that has provided little answers and the arrests of the YouTubers have left the streamers and their followers distrustful of law enforcement and the press. — Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 9 July 2026 Rob-Will has the support of his adoring wildchild daughter, Oreana (Natalie Alyn Lind), but not of openly distrustful Rip, who gave the gun-toting Rob-Will that punch felt around the Dutton universe in their gas station first meeting. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for distrustful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for distrustful

Adjective

Ellison, for his part, promised to release a minimum of 30 films per year theatrically, though many in the industry remain skeptical about how long the company can sustain that level of production.

— Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026
Some seemed skeptical as the men performed the rainmaking ritual.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of skeptical

Adjective

Patrick looked unsure of his dad’s abilities in this playful shot shared for Arnold’s 75th birthday in 2022.

— Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
Still, a $50,000 5-year CD won't be the best idea for most savers, especially those unsure of their capacity to keep the funds frozen in the account for the full term.

— Matt Richardson, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of unsure

Adjective

Anyone who receives a suspicious call should hang up and report the activity to local law enforcement, police said.

— Garrett Behanna, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Other issues Allen's attorneys are expected to argue before the appeals court are inconsistencies in how witnesses described the suspicious man near the trail, pointing to a sketch of a potential suspect that didn't look like Allen.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of suspicious

Adjective

The storm will likely form near the coast this week, but its track is uncertain.

— Ben Noll, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2026
The first version is a compact novel-within-a-novel in which this fictional couple is further fictionalized, to an uncertain degree but scandalous effect.

— Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of uncertain

Adjective

Before deciding someone is reckless or overly cautious, look at what each of you is actually trying to protect.

— Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
Markets still are developing despite cautious interest Even as perennial grain development steadily improves and more farmers sign on to grow it, there still are issues with consumer interest, federal support and research infrastructure.

— Joshua A. Bickel, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of cautious

Adjective

Our ability to win over local constituencies deeply mistrustful of both our products and our leaders is uncertain.

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2026
The Social Democrats, led by Kurt Schumacher, a prickly figure who had suffered horribly for resisting the Nazis, were mistrustful of the United States and hoped to reunify Germany as a neutral state at the center of Europe.

— Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of mistrustful

Adjective

Renault is careful to frame this as a style exercise rather than a preview of a production model.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Sep. 2026
Awash with new property tax funds, local governments often haven’t been careful stewards of residents’ tax dollars.

— Elaine Parker, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Sep. 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 26 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of distrustful

adjective

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