as in doubt
a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something
the psychic's bold claims were greeted with distrust and outright scorn
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to doubt
to have no trust or confidence in
we instinctively distrust those phone calls that tell us we have won a free vacation or car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distrust
Wayne Unger, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2026
Ahead of Wednesday’s hearings, experts said his handling of them could affect his chances at a pivotal moment of his reelection campaign and set the tone for how Congress oversees the nation’s health agenda at a time of rampant distrust and misinformation.
—Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 14 Apr. 2026
About the same share, 34%, distrusted it, and another 33% neither trusted it nor distrusted it.
—ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distrust
Noun
Conversely, a lack of transparency breeds distrust and erodes institutional legitimacy.
—Wayne Unger, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2026
Ahead of Wednesday’s hearings, experts said his handling of them could affect his chances at a pivotal moment of his reelection campaign and set the tone for how Congress oversees the nation’s health agenda at a time of rampant distrust and misinformation.
—Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
Days earlier, The New Yorker had published a lengthy investigation that compiled over a hundred interviews and found that many people who had worked with him distrusted him and found inconsistencies in his actions.
—Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 14 Apr. 2026
About the same share, 34%, distrusted it, and another 33% neither trusted it nor distrusted it.
—ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distrust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distrust
Noun
-
The Salt Lake County district attorney’s office and the Draper City prosecutor both declined to file charges against Paul in April, citing insufficient evidence to prove allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.—
Senior Television,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
There’s a bit of bad dream and doubt, and a bit of songwriting tips and tricks.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
So far, that skepticism has appeared justified.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
There’s plenty of skepticism that would or could ever take place.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The elder DeCosta had other suspicions.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The officers had transported the suspect, who had been arrested on suspicion of robbery, to the hospital for observation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The uncertainty over how the Supreme Court will rule could be an extra inducement for people suing Bayer to accept the pending deal, which is not dependent on the outcome of the case.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
And du Rusquec’s quiet exit, without a media announcement or permanent replacement, adds to the uncertainty around the brand’s direction.—
Maliha Shoaib,
Vogue,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But overcoming perceptions that lithium-ion battery technology is inherently dangerous has proven challenging, and developers sometimes fuel mistrust by dismissing residents’ concerns about fire, toxic threats and the industrialization of natural landscapes.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The comments come against a backdrop of what researchers describe as deepening disillusionment among younger investors and rising mistrust in wealth management institutions.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distrust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distrust. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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