distrust

1 of 2

noun

dis·​trust (ˌ)dis-ˈtrəst 

: the lack or absence of trust

distrust

2 of 2

verb

distrusted; distrusting; distrusts

transitive verb

: to have no trust or confidence in

Synonyms

Noun

• distrustfulness
• doubt
• dubiety
• dubitation [archaic]
• incertitude
• misdoubt
• misgiving
• mistrust
• mistrustfulness
• query
• reservation
• skepticism
• suspicion
• uncertainty

Verb

• doubt
• misdoubt
• mistrust
• question
• suspect

Examples of distrust in a Sentence

Noun

He has a distrust of doctors.

the psychic's bold claims were greeted with distrust and outright scorn

Verb

She's always distrusted their promises.

we instinctively distrust those phone calls that tell us we have won a free vacation or car

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Uncertainty breeds distrust, and the brain craves predictability. —Alex Draper, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025

Trump’s Signal scandal fuels growing distrust from allies. —Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 31 Mar. 2025

Verb

Statistics on homelessness are fluid because the population is transient and tends to distrust outreach workers. —Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2025

Trump, for instance, has sought to take credit for the Covid-19 vaccines developed during his first term, yet a significant portion of the GOP base now distrusts vaccine science, turning it into a partisan issue since the advent of the pandemic. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1513, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1548, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing distrust

• self-distrust

Rhymes for distrust

• adjust
• combust
• discussed
• disgust
• entrust
• intrust
• mistrust
• nonplussed
• robust
• sawdust
• stardust
• unjust

Kids Definition

distrust

1 of 2 verb

dis·​trust (ˈ)dis-ˈtrəst 

: to have no trust or confidence in

distrust

2 of 2 noun

: a lack of trust or confidence

distrustful

-fəl

adjective

distrustfully

-fə-lē

adverb

distrustfulness noun