distrust

American  

[dis-truhst] / dɪsˈtrʌst /

verb (used with object)

1. to regard with doubt or suspicion; have no trust in.

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noun

1. lack of trust; doubt; suspicion.

distrust British  

/ dɪsˈtrʌst /

verb

1. to regard as untrustworthy or dishonest

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noun

1. suspicion; doubt

Usage

What’s the difference between distrust and mistrust? As nouns, distrust and mistrust mean just about the same thing: doubt or suspicion—a lack of trust.As verbs, they are also often used interchangeably to mean to regard someone with suspicion—to not trust them.Some people think that there is a subtle difference in what each word implies. Distrust, they say, implies that there is a strong reason for the lack of trust—that it’s based on something that a person has already done. Mistrust, on the other hand, is said to be based on suspicion, as opposed to having a basis in someone’s past actions.This may be what some people intend to imply when they use each word, but, still, most people use the two of them in just about the same way. Distrust is the more commonly used of the two. The adjective distrustful is also more common than mistrustful.Here are some examples of distrust and mistrust used correctly in a sentence. In both cases, the other word could be swapped in without changing the meaning.Example: I have a deep mistrust of landlords. Example: She has distrusted me ever since I lost her book—and I think her distrust of me has grown since then. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between distrust and mistrust.

Related Words

See suspicion.

Other Word Forms

• distruster noun
• distrustful adjective
• distrustfully adverb
• distrustfulness noun
• predistrust noun

Etymology

Origin of distrust

First recorded in 1505–15; dis- ¹ + trust

Example Sentences

The Covid pandemic, fewer big media campaigns, limited resources and a possible distrust in the health service were some of the reasons provided for the reduction in recent years.

From BBC

There are sometimes valid reasons to distrust experts.

From Salon

As a colleague he could be distrusting and wary.

From The Wall Street Journal

The large misses that have resulted in recent budget scores have fueled distrust of the agencies.

From The Wall Street Journal

Nicklaus alleged that the company’s statements “tended to subject Mr. Nicklaus to hatred, distrust, ridicule, contempt and disgrace, and injure him in his profession,” according to his defamation complaint.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• disbelief
• doubt
• misgiving
• mistrust
• skepticism
• suspicion
• wariness