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 of distrust

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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
In Rapides Parish, the secrecy left residents with unanswered questions and distrust of their local leaders. — Drew Hawkins, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026 Victims’ families and experts are unsure the higher amounts will be enough to get tipsters to come forward, citing people's fears and distrust of the federal government. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
The American public distrusts its legal institutions and media outlets, creating a vacuum in which wild conjecture can bloom. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026 There are a litany of reasons to distrust Google’s AI Overviews, which now appear at the top of its search results above links to actual websites. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 20 Aug. 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

Phrases Containing distrust

Rhymes for distrust

See All Rhymes for distrust

Browse Nearby Words

Distrito Federal
distrust
distrustful
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Cite this Entry

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

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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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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