1
as in skeptical
inclined to doubt or question claims
she was distrustful of her boyfriend's claim of having saved the kitten from a raging fire
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unsure
not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something
naturally distrustful of politicians who claim to have all the answers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distrustful
Reopens old wounds: Retroactive jealousy can trigger memories of past distrustful or deceptive relationships, amplifying feelings of insecurity and fear.
—
Dominique Fluker, Essence, 18 Feb. 2025
But the eleventh-hour revelations caused increasing distress for Democrats already distrustful of Pete Hegseth and doubtful of his ability to lead the massive agency.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025
In this context, Mr. Biden pardoning his son is both understandable and further damaging to a polarized and distrustful nation, says Cara Foos Pierce, an assistant professor at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, in an email.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Dec. 2024
Egypt’s military governments have long been deeply distrustful of Islamist movements, notably the homegrown Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, and Sisi himself came to power in a military coup against a Muslim Brotherhood president who was elected after the uprising of 2011.
—Lisa Anderson, Foreign Affairs, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distrustful
Dominique Fluker, Essence, 18 Feb. 2025
But the eleventh-hour revelations caused increasing distress for Democrats already distrustful of Pete Hegseth and doubtful of his ability to lead the massive agency.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025
In this context, Mr. Biden pardoning his son is both understandable and further damaging to a polarized and distrustful nation, says Cara Foos Pierce, an assistant professor at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, in an email.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Dec. 2024
Egypt’s military governments have long been deeply distrustful of Islamist movements, notably the homegrown Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, and Sisi himself came to power in a military coup against a Muslim Brotherhood president who was elected after the uprising of 2011.
—Lisa Anderson, Foreign Affairs, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distrustful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distrustful
Adjective
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But economists are skeptical that these tariffs can bring in as much as Mr. Trump claims, as consumers will likely reduce their spending on foreign goods when prices go up.—
Laura Doan,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2025
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Countries across the region are justifiably skeptical of any U.S. attempt to define the boundaries of their relationships with other powers.—
MATIAS SPEKTOR,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Anyone who was at either of the Grapevine locations March 28-30 and is unvaccinated or unsure of their vaccination status is at risk of contracting measles, Tarrant officials said.—
Matt Leclercq,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Apr. 2025
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Republicans were the most divided, with 31% in support, 27% in opposition and 42% unsure.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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At least 11 cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea within 15 months, the alliance heavily suspicious of Russian influence.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
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The only giveaway is the web address, which often uses suspicious or misspelled domains.—
Alex Vakulov,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Aside from the retroactive tariffs expected to be announced this afternoon by the White House, not only is the imposition of secondary sanctions on buyers of Russian highly uncertain, but their possible nature remains inscrutable.—
Michael Lynch,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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And the partnership comes as TikTok’s future in the U.S. is uncertain.—
Lillian Rizzo,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Dawn Staley, who’s undefeated in NCAA finals, is cautious in taking that fact into consideration.—
Roberta F. Rodrigues,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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Those with heart conditions, including a recent heart attack or stroke, should also be cautious about taking medications that contain PDE5 inhibitors.30 The safety and side effects of the ingredients in ExtenZe have not been studied in clinical trials.—
Jessica Swirble,
Verywell Health,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But the discussion around Golden this season has been muted, strained and careful all the way to the end, Monday’s dramatic 65-63 comeback win against Houston to seize the title.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
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Many target companies use different software and services—Google vs. Microsoft, on-premise vs. cloud, etc. Unraveling and consolidating these technologies is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution.—
David Van Ronk,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distrustful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distrustful. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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