Synonyms of mistrustful

mistrustful

adjective

1

as in skeptical

inclined to doubt or question claims

we were mistrustful of the so-called "miracle cure" for obesity

Synonyms & Similar Words

• skeptical
• suspicious
• cautious
• distrustful
• careful
• wary
• incredulous
• questioning
• doubting
• disbelieving
• unbelieving
• paranoid
• cynical
• show-me
• negativistic
• suspecting
• curious
• leery
• watchful
• experienced
• quizzical
• guarded
• unsure
• puzzled
• inquisitive
• critical
• hesitant
• uncertain
• unconvinced
• worldly
• gun-shy
• sophisticated
• nosy
• worldly-wise
• undecided
• undetermined
• knowing
• unsettled
• inquiring
• snoopy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• trusting
• credulous
• trustful
• uncritical
• gullible
• naive
• unquestioning
• unsophisticated
• confident
• ingenuous
• green
• innocent
• positive
• unworldly
• certain
• unknowing
• simple
• wide-eyed
• simpleminded
• sure
• inexperienced
• idealistic
• childlike
• raw
• impractical
• callow
• careless
• deceived
• unsuspicious
• unsuspecting
• heedless
• unwary
• duped
• beguiled
• tricked
• gulled

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

• skeptical
• unsure
• suspicious
• uncertain
• distrustful
• doubtful
• unsettled
• unconvinced
• dubious
• undecided
• on the fence
• hesitant
• ambivalent
• trustless
• conflicted
• hinky
• insecure
• equivocal
• diffident
• irresolute
• indecisive
• vacillating
• wavering
• halting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• positive
• certain
• sure
• convinced
• confident
• sanguine
• assured
• self-assured
• decisive
• resolute
• determined

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of mistrustful

The Social Democrats, led by Kurt Schumacher, a prickly figure who had suffered horribly for resisting the Nazis, were mistrustful of the United States and hoped to reunify Germany as a neutral state at the center of Europe. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Once a lawyerly panel, a takeover by a trio of conservatives deeply mistrustful of the state’s voting system has turned the board’s once mundane meetings into boisterous events packed with crowds of cheering and jeering activists. — Tamar Hallerman, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026

The idea is to strategically moderate on certain cultural issues in order to become more palatable to mistrustful constituencies. — Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 19 July 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