trustworthy
Americanadjective
adjective
Related Words
See reliable.
Other Word Forms
- trustworthily adverb
- trustworthiness noun
- untrustworthily adverb
- untrustworthy adjective
Etymology
Origin of trustworthy
Explanation
Trustworthy describes something you can believe in — it's completely reliable. Your favorite newspaper can be trustworthy — they always print the truth — and people can be trustworthy too. You only tell your secrets to a trustworthy friend. Breaking apart the word trustworthy gives you a clue to its meaning. It combines the common word trust, which describes something you can rely on, and the word worthy, which describes something that deserves respect. So something — or someone — that's trustworthy deserves your trust. In an election, you'll likely vote for the most trustworthy candidate because you believe she'll keep her promises. If you're trustworthy, that means you're reliable: you do what you say you're going to do.
Vocabulary lists containing trustworthy
Positive Words to Describe a Person
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Common Core Grades 7–8, List 7
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"Ode to the Table" by Pablo Neruda
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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.
“Family members or surrounding adults who are supposed to be safe and trustworthy figures are often the ones filming.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026
Annuities can also be used as part of Medicaid planning, if done with the guidance of a trustworthy attorney.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026
“We’re working with OpenClaw builder Peter Steinberger to make self-certified agents, or claws, more trustworthy, scalable, and accessible to the world,” she added.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026
"Just as important," Nemenman says, "it may let us design new AI methods that are more accurate, efficient and trustworthy."
From Science Daily • Mar. 3, 2026
He truly did have a really nice smile, one that lit his eyes, making him appear open and trustworthy.
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.