1
as in skeptical
inclined to doubt or question claims
she was distrustful of her boyfriend's claim of having saved the kitten from a raging fire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unsure
not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something
naturally distrustful of politicians who claim to have all the answers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distrustful
Border czar Tom Homan says more than a thousand federal agents have already left Minnesota, though many community members remain distrustful and fearful.
—
Wcco Staff, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
The man lusting for power is always active, the center of the show, relentless, vigilant, distrustful, restless when anything stands in his way.
—David Brooks, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
Without this foundation, future clinicians will struggle to explain changing recommendations to patients who are already confused and distrustful.
—Krutika Kuppalli, STAT, 12 Jan. 2026
Markel became increasingly distrustful of Donna Adelson due to her desire to move the children away from him, even filing a motion to prevent her from having unsupervised visits with the children in 2014.
—Mason Leath, ABC News, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distrustful
Wcco Staff, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
The man lusting for power is always active, the center of the show, relentless, vigilant, distrustful, restless when anything stands in his way.
—David Brooks, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
Without this foundation, future clinicians will struggle to explain changing recommendations to patients who are already confused and distrustful.
—Krutika Kuppalli, STAT, 12 Jan. 2026
Markel became increasingly distrustful of Donna Adelson due to her desire to move the children away from him, even filing a motion to prevent her from having unsupervised visits with the children in 2014.
—Mason Leath, ABC News, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distrustful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distrustful
Adjective
-
Travelers should be cautiously skeptical Ignoring professional advice isn't necessarily a bad trend.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
Others are purely skeptical and believe a dialogue could backfire.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Like many students, Headley is now left in limbo, unsure how finals will be submitted or graded.—
Tori Mason,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
-
The Mets are unsure if his hip led to decreased velocity.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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At the same time, police also noted suspicious behavior from McDermitt — including him mourning Fox's death on Facebook.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
-
Agents were suspicious that Cruz would not have had enough time to reach the Lukeville Port of Entry to pick up passengers.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Hulse felt both hopeful and uncertain.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
-
What was once a slow and uncertain flow of prospective officers has evolved into a steady stream of qualified candidates, producing record-sized recruit classes.—
Joy Lepola-Stewart,
Baltimore Sun,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
In a groove Phil Maton is cautious to ever declare that his delivery has fully come together.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
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Beneath the measured pace of transactions — collectors more cautious, galleries recalibrating, auction houses tempering expectations — the intellectual and aesthetic stakes of contemporary art feel newly urgent.—
Andrew S. Jacobson,
Baltimore Sun,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
In the Epistle to the Galatians, Paul strains to show that the Gentile mission and the Jerusalem mission, though carried out by mutually mistrustful parties, belong to a single divine design.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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People are mistrustful of government at all levels right now, according to Larson.—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The move, Lindon said, is careful.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
-
However, the Vaile Victorian Society, the volunteer group that maintains the house and runs tours, worries that once the house ceases to become a public property, the careful preservation work, which the aged property relies on, will be impossible to maintain.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distrustful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distrustful. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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