1
as in skeptical
inclined to doubt or question claims
we were mistrustful of the so-called "miracle cure" for obesity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unsure
not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something
inhabitants of that remote community tend to be mistrustful of outsiders
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 mistrustful
In the Epistle to the Galatians, Paul strains to show that the Gentile mission and the Jerusalem mission, though carried out by mutually mistrustful parties, belong to a single divine design.
—
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
People are mistrustful of government at all levels right now, according to Larson.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
Initially mistrustful of each other, the two men bond over Molina's stories about movie star Ingrid Luna (Jennifer Lopez) and her starring role in the eponymous film-within-a-film.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
People are mistrustful of government at all levels right now, according to Larson.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
Initially mistrustful of each other, the two men bond over Molina's stories about movie star Ingrid Luna (Jennifer Lopez) and her starring role in the eponymous film-within-a-film.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistrustful
Adjective
-
But it's also made people even more skeptical of public figures whose appearances seem naturally frozen in time.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
Many consumers are wary, skeptical, and even disgusted by AI content in ads.—
Melissa A. Wheeler,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Eagle Rock was unsure what this season would bring.—
Justin Vigil Zuniga,
Daily News,
28 May 2026
-
Many simply felt unsure about what to click next.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Southlake police stopped an in-progress forgery at a bank after staff notified them about suspicious activity, officials said in a Facebook post.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 May 2026
-
Create a family script for suspicious calls None of the protections above stops a phone call.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
In no uncertain terms, the absence of those issues is bewildering, erodes the entire report’s credibility, and demands an explanation.—
Douglas Schoen,
Oc Register,
28 May 2026
-
Rumbello explains that while more people are actively seeking alternatives to pharmaceuticals, many remain uncertain about which solutions are credible.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Americans are also increasingly cautious about where sensitive information like health data and financial records rest.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
3 June 2026
-
The current government led by Donald Tusk has been more cautious, speaking only about a bigger role in nuclear deterrence.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Aid supplies reached the heart of the outbreak this week but medical personnel continue to struggle with a lack of equipment, a distrustful population and armed groups in the volatile region.—
Jean-Yves Kamale,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
In such a distrustful environment, everything that should be pure or holy or human is crushed under the weight of a state only interested in its own self-perpetuation.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Be careful and don’t overreact.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mistrustful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistrustful. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
