MISTRUST Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

mistrust 1 of 2

noun

ˌmis-ˈtrəst

Definition of mistrust next

as in doubt

a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something had an unfortunate mistrust of doctors, so her medical condition was allowed to worsen

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

How does the noun mistrust differ from other similar words?

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?

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

Any negotiations, however, would start from a place of deep mutual mistrust. —

Nancy A. Youssef, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026 In the Middle East, Western imperial powers helped engineer a geopolitical order built on instability, mistrust, extraction and armed dependency. —

Mehrnoush Soroush, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026

Verb

Elon Musk and Sam Altman claimed to mistrust Hassabis, who seemed likelier than anyone to invent a machine of unlimited flexibility—perhaps the most potent technology in history. —

Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026 Israel has long mistrusted UNIFIL, accusing it of failing to prevent Hezbollah from building up its military presence along the border in violation of ceasefire agreements going back two decades. —

Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mistrust

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistrust

Noun

Morgan has found a lot of success wheeling-and-dealing in his first two drafts in the general manager seat, no doubt.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
That was compounded by doubts, both within the club and among those close to the player, over his long-term future — largely due to those injury problems.

— Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026