distrustful
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of distrustful
Explanation
If you're suspicious, or uncertain whether you should believe something (or someone), you're distrustful. If your dog is distrustful of clowns, she may growl every time she sees anyone wearing a big, red, rubber nose. Whenever you experience a lack of trust, you're distrustful. The word adds the prefix dis-, "not," to trustful, or "full of trust." If your cousin frequently tells tale tales, you will probably be distrustful when he claims that he recently met a famous movie star. And if that old wooden roller coaster at the amusement park looks rickety, you might be distrustful of its safety go ride the merry-go-round instead.
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 last five years have come at a cost to Angharad, who experienced nightmares and still feels angry and distrustful of others.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
Americans have grown distrustful of artificial intelligence and worry it will eventually take their jobs.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 27, 2026
Everybody has felt heartbreak or confusion or duped or confused or distrustful of their own intuition and all of that stuff.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026
Much of the Catholic hierarchy in Rome remained distrustful of American political norms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 18, 2026
Bobby, distrustful of doctors, tried to talk her out of the procedure, and they argued about it for hours.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
