mistrust

[ mis-truhst ]

noun

1. lack of trust or confidence; distrust.

verb (used with object)

1. to regard with mistrust, suspicion, or doubt; distrust.
2. to surmise.

verb (used without object)

1. to be distrustful.

mistrust

/ ˌmɪsˈtrʌst /

verb

1. to have doubts or suspicions about (someone or something)

noun

1. distrust

Derived Forms

• ˌmisˈtrustfully, adverb
• ˌmisˈtrustful, adjective
• ˌmisˈtrustfulness, noun
• ˌmisˈtruster, noun

Other Words From

• mis·truster noun
• mis·trusting·ly adverb
• self-mis·trust noun
• unmis·trusted adjective
• unmis·trusting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mistrust¹

1350–1400; Middle English mistrusten (v.), mistrust (noun). See mis- ¹, trust

Example Sentences

But the former environmental lawyer has gained a following by tapping into mistrust of those who see US regulators as too deferential to big food and medical companies.

From BBC

She said: "It's about being mistrusted. What more does Andy have to prove?"

From BBC

A growing mistrust of the country’s institutions has officials concerned that violence may erupt at voting centers in battleground states in an election that is certain to be contested before and after Nov. 5.

From Los Angeles Times

“Her silences also taught me isolation, fury, mistrust, self-rejection, and sadness.”

From Los Angeles Times

Sinwar proved prescient in his mistrust of any electronic devices – which were used as a devastating weapon last month against operatives of Hezbollah.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apprehension
• distrust
• doubt
• fear
• foreboding
• misgiving
• skepticism
• suspicion
• uncertainty
• wariness

Mistrust Vs. Distrust

What’s the difference between mistrust and distrust?

As nouns, mistrust and distrust 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 mistrust and distrust 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 mistrust and distrust.

Quiz yourself on mistrust vs. distrust!

True or False? 

Mistrust is only ever a verb, while distrust is only ever a noun.