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

Synonyms

Noun

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Putting up such blinders in pursuit of continued application and advancement certainly won’t help convince people to use it, but only serves to garner further distrust. — Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 21 Mar. 2025 That includes greater vaccine hesitancy due to misinformation and controversy around the Covid vaccine and more distrust of public health officials and their requirements, among other issues. — Annika Kim Constantino,ashley Capoot, CNBC, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
Consumers increasingly distrust businesses that claim to support causes but fail to act. — Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 Carved out in 1997, the jungle region had no formal health services, and its residents – the Indigenous Ngäbe and Buglé peoples – had a reputation for resisting and distrusting outsiders. — Adam Williams, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for distrust

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1513, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1548, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of distrust was in 1513

Phrases Containing distrust

Rhymes for distrust

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Browse Nearby Words

distrust
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Cite this Entry

“Distrust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distrust. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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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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