Synonyms

trustworthiness

American

[truhst-wur-thee-nis] / ˈtrʌstˌwɜr ði nɪs /

noun

the quality of being deserving of trust or confidence; dependability; reliability.

We look for students who exhibit the highest ethical standards, as demonstrated by honesty, trustworthiness, and high moral character.

Etymology

Origin of trustworthiness

trustworthy ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Explanation

Trustworthiness is the quality of a person or a thing that inspires reliability. If you want a pet known for its trustworthiness, choose a loyal and obedient dog. People or things can be described with the adjective trustworthy, and when you add the suffix -ness to it, you make the word into a noun describing the quality or trait of being trustworthy. A person can be known for trustworthiness in keeping promises, and a newspaper can be worthy of trust for correct reporting.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The boards have been criticized in the past for allowing officers to remain with the department even when they are prohibited from handling evidence or working in the field due to concerns about trustworthiness.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

She added that friendliness and trustworthiness were linked, so there could be a method behind the mask.

From BBC • Jan. 6, 2026

Participants were also asked to evaluate the retailer’s trustworthiness on a seven-point scale, with one being completely untrustworthy or manipulative and seven being totally trustworthy or sincere.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 17, 2025

"It is precisely this deliberate openness and community model that upholds the neutrality and trustworthiness essential for a global encyclopedia: no single individual, company, or agenda can exert influence over the work."

From Barron's • Nov. 14, 2025

In a world without peer review, texts, in order to convey trustworthiness, reliability and accuracy, had to employ literary devices.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023