distrust

1 of 2

noun

dis·​trust (ˌ)dis-ˈtrəst How to pronounce distrust (audio)
Synonyms of distrustnext
: the lack or absence of trust

distrust

2 of 2

verb

distrusted; distrusting; distrusts

transitive verb

: to have no trust or confidence in

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Aldermen once again aired their distrust of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s work implementing Chicago’s budget yesterday as his top finance leaders revealed the city is once again turning to an outside consulting firm for help in cutting costs. Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026 Many view the lawsuit as a grudge match between Musk—who left OpenAI after serving as an early major donor and advisor—and Altman—who currently runs OpenAI, despite insiders’ allegedly growing distrust in his commitment to the dominant AI firm’s mission. Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
But our culture now distrusts that kind of leadership. Jonathan Alpert Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026 Surely, the paradox of people distrusting AI and yet relying on it can only last so long. Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for distrust

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1532, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1548, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of distrust was circa 1532

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Distrust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distrust. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

distrust

1 of 2 verb
dis·​trust (ˈ)dis-ˈtrəst How to pronounce distrust (audio)
: 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

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