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 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 This complicated web of lies, betrayals, and cover-ups leads her to be distrustful. — Literary Hub, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for distrustful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for distrustful

Adjective

Initially skeptical of the tub, her contractors took pride in the end result.

— Sean Santiago, Architectural Digest, 9 Sep. 2026
El Sayed has been skeptical of AI throughout his Senate campaign against GOP candidate Mike Rogers, calling for government ownership of the technology and backing a sweeping tax on AI companies’ stock.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of skeptical

Adjective

Researchers are also still unsure which spacecraft burn up completely and how many fragments may reach the ground, putting lives and property at risk.

— Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Police and lifeguards were unsure as to the most recent jumping fatality, with one official pointing to the 2019 death of 15-year-old Anthony Womack, a National City resident.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of unsure

Adjective

So many teams began the season in a state of turmoil, with key players uncertain over their future and positions unfilled.

— Oliver Kay, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
The forecast then becomes uncertain, as one model suggests a stronger system could bring cooler weather and rain, while another keeps the heat in place.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of uncertain

Adjective

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
Once a lawyerly panel, a takeover by a trio of conservatives deeply mistrustful of the state’s voting system has turned the board’s once mundane meetings into boisterous events packed with crowds of cheering and jeering activists.

— Tamar Hallerman, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of mistrustful

Adjective

The Challenges of Caring for a Fireclay Sink However, the same gleaming surface that makes a fireclay sink an anchor of your kitchen design requires a more intentional, careful cleaning routine than some other materials.

— Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 10 Sep. 2026
The premise couldn’t be simpler, though Wollner’s incredible prologue — a careful arrangement of low-event long takes that emphasize how people move through spaces in time — trains our eyes to privilege texture over incident.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of careful

Browse Nearby Words

distrusted

distrustful

distrustfully

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Style

“Distrustful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distrustful. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of distrustful

adjective

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