distrustful

adjective

dis·​trust·​ful (ˌ)dis-ˈtrəs(t)-fəl 

: having or showing distrust

distrustfully

(ˌ)dis-ˈtrəs(t)-fə-lē 

adverb

distrustfulness noun

Synonyms

• disbelieving
• doubting
• incredulous
• mistrustful
• negativistic
• questioning
• show-me
• skeptical
• suspecting
• suspicious
• unbelieving

Examples of distrustful in a Sentence

she was distrustful of her boyfriend's claim of having saved the kitten from a raging fire

naturally distrustful of politicians who claim to have all the answers

Recent Examples on the Web

Moreover, with the American public increasingly distrustful of nearly all institutions, small business retains its sheen. —Brandon Kochkodin, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

As political unrest erupts in the streets, Iman realizes that his job is even more dangerous than expected, leaving him distrustful of even his pious wife Najmeh and teenage daughters Sana and Rezvan. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Oct. 2024

Embroiled in one intense conflict after another, both sides had grown increasingly distrustful of each other. —Suzanne Mettler, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2020

Many of those in the camp have mental illnesses and are distrustful of authorities and those trying to help them, Kegel said. —Owen Tripp, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined above