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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
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During the Cold War, a nuclear-armed, NATO-skeptical France developed its own philosophy for war in the air.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
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Though Musk anticipates widespread automation in the next decade or two, economists are skeptical about how pervasive and fast these labor and policy shifts will be.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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Why Perimenopause Is So Often Misidentified A December 2025 preprint in medRxiv examining perimenopause uncertainty among more than 7,600 US women found that one in three were unsure of their reproductive stage, with barriers to clinical confirmation among the key drivers.—
Allison Palmer
Updated June 13,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
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The problem is companies are unsure if the timeline will hold, or whether a potential Ukraine peace deal could reopen nuclear relations again.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
13 June 2026
Adjective
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This can help spot suspicious activity after an unauthorized visit.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
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However, investigators determined that the fires were suspicious, according to a Thursday news release from the Woodland Police Department.—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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Between Richards’ health, Ream’s age and the uncertain roles of McKenzie and Robinson, center back is the USMNT’s most fluid position.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
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The fate of roughly $2 billion annually that was intended to help reduce wildfire risk, promote clean water and build affordable housing, along with other efforts across California, is uncertain as the Legislature races to pass a state budget by Monday.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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The move suggests a broader shift in Tehran, where a new generation of leaders is increasingly abandoning the cautious, reactive approach that long defined the Islamic Republic’s strategy towards its adversaries.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
10 June 2026
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Ciara is very cautious and played it slow in opening her heart up to West.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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Netanyahu – distrustful of the US’s diplomacy and raring for a return to war instead – had also just been handed a roadmap back to open conflict with Iran.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
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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
Adjective
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Be careful when riding back downtown on a bike, as the hill notoriously increases cycling speed.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
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The Main Match Concealer is available in 22 shades, with careful consideration for South Asian undertones (which are often breezed by).—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mistrustful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistrustful. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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