mistrust 1 of 2

mistrust

2 of 2

verb

as in to doubt
to have no trust or confidence in a recluse who mistrusts her neighbors and stays in her house all day

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun mistrust differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of mistrust are doubt, dubiety, skepticism, suspicion, and uncertainty. While all these words mean "lack of sureness about someone or something," mistrust implies a genuine doubt based upon suspicion.

had a great mistrust of doctors

When is it sensible to use doubt instead of mistrust?

While the synonyms doubt and mistrust are close in meaning, doubt suggests both uncertainty and inability to make a decision.

plagued by doubts as to what to do

In what contexts can dubiety take the place of mistrust?

The synonyms dubiety and mistrust are sometimes interchangeable, but dubiety stresses a wavering between conclusions.

felt some dubiety about its practicality

When is skepticism a more appropriate choice than mistrust?

The meanings of skepticism and mistrust largely overlap; however, skepticism implies unwillingness to believe without conclusive evidence.

an economic forecast greeted with skepticism

Where would suspicion be a reasonable alternative to mistrust?

While in some cases nearly identical to mistrust, suspicion stresses lack of faith in the truth, reality, fairness, or reliability of something or someone.

regarded the stranger with suspicion

When might uncertainty be a better fit than mistrust?

In some situations, the words uncertainty and mistrust are roughly equivalent. However, uncertainty may range from a falling short of certainty to an almost complete lack of conviction or knowledge especially about an outcome or result.

assumed the role of manager without hesitation or uncertainty

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 mistrust
Noun
But the film’s precise, funny characters and vivid, sweltering look would have meant nothing without Lee’s wise and ultimately sad vision of multicultural America as a place where good intentions and casual mistrust are as commonplace as the local pizzeria. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2025 Feelings of consternation and mistrust were inflamed recently when two residents reported that project surveyors were on their creekside properties without permission. Adrian Rodriguez, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
Drawn out of his humble galley kitchen and into a world of diplomatic intrigue, Carême becomes a pawn in the cold war between Talleyrand, a Machiavellian schemer stabbing backs in the name of a newborn republic, and Fouché, a draconian lawman who mistrusts anything that moves. Alison Herman, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025 Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University in Beijing, explained that, after weeks of posturing and contradictory messages, Chinese officials mistrust Trump. Juliana Liu, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mistrust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistrust
Noun
  • There is no doubt, for example, that Moyes needed another midfielder.
    Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The beautiful ambivalence and mystery of Virgil’s own poetic art has both an aesthetic and a quasi-political function, in teaching the reader to remain in a cognitive place of doubt.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The pollster's latest survey on Supreme Court approval yielded similar skepticism from Americans, with only 39 percent approving of the High Court.
    Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The news was met with equal parts excitement and skepticism from the band’s fan base.
    Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The sting resulted in the arrest of two men over suspicion of copyright infringement in El Sheikh Zayed City near the Greater Cairo metro area.
    Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Any one visiting Russia in the past will know when the subject of China comes up, there are perpetual suspicions toward its territorial intentions in the far east of the country.
    Kerry Brown, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Entrenched Chinese foreign policy positions, including territorial disputes and industrial subsidies that have flooded foreign markets with cheap exports, will likely remain friction points, experts say, while India's deep distrust of China will not dissipate because of one brief meeting.
    James Pomfret, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
  • In an era marked by epidemics of loneliness and political distrust, sports fandom is one simple and universally accessible medicine.
    Todd Rogers, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Amid the regulatory uncertainty, some pharmacies have said that access to the shots may vary state-by-state and may require a prescription.
    Jon Haworth, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2025
  • This is one of the key points causing uncertainty about access.
    Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 4 Sep. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Mistrust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistrust. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

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