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
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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
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That included 83% of Democrats but just 33% of Republicans, who tend to be more skeptical of climate change.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
6 July 2025
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Lee also points out North Korea's poor infrastructure and vulnerability to geopolitical fluctuations as reasons to be skeptical about its tourism ambitions.—
Se Eun Gong,
NPR,
5 July 2025
Adjective
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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
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For creators who’ve built something significant but are unsure how to grow further, or who are simply ready for a change, now may be a smart time to explore a sale.—
Ian Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, security teams must expand visibility with tools that monitor AI use, flag suspicious behavior and inventory every AI-enabled app.—
Jason Vest,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Why else, the night Mrs. Palit invited us to dinner, did my eyes fall on suspicious dark objects, not much larger than prominent flecks of salt, in the dal?—
Jhumpa Lahiri,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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According to a survey conducted for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, more than 70% of Americans have felt either cautious or uncertain about their financial situation over the past 12 months.—
Corina Vanek,
AZCentral.com,
7 July 2025
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This enormous — and uncertain — data center growth should not be Maryland’s responsibility.—
David S. Lapp,
Baltimore Sun,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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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
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Fire officials warn the public to be cautious and clean up debris around homes as the warmer months bring out more rattlesnakes.—
Helena Wegner,
Sacbee.com,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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If allowed, Andrew will likely bring further reputational damage to the monarchy at a time when the royal ship needs a careful steer.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
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In reality, Israel overpowered Iran’s military and outwitted its intelligence with stunning efficiency, demonstrating years, if not decades, of careful preparation in under two weeks.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distrustful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distrustful. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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