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

If Trump did not have any involvement in this escapade, Patrushev’s gambit shows—some would say, confirms—that Russia’s main goal, in all these misinformation ventures, is to sow chaos, breed mistrust, and weaken the sinews of democracy in Western countries, especially in the U.S., regardless of who is the president.

From Slate

It also seems reasonable to say that a second bout of messy and not entirely consistent briefing from each camp underlines the central truth in all of this - the hurt, the rows, the anger, the mistrust which has been there for all to see.

From BBC

“Mistrust of the U.S. is growing,” said Cheong, who founded the ROK Forum for Nuclear Strategy, a group of 50 analysts, former military officials and academics who share his view that South Korea should acquire nuclear arms.

From Los Angeles Times

Some sheriffs rejected the arrangements entirely on the grounds that they sowed mistrust and discouraged immigrants from calling 911.

From Slate

The device that caught fire in Minworth is also understood to have come from Lithuania, where the head of the parliament's national security and defence committee, Arvydas Pocius, said it was part of an ongoing campaign of hybrid attacks aimed at "causing chaos, panic and mistrust".

From BBC

Related Words

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