Mistrust — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˌmis-ˈtrəst/ mis·trust

Meaning & Definition of Mistrust

Mistrust (noun)

  1. a lack of confidence, distrust

Mistrust (verb)

  1. to have no trust or confidence in, suspect
  2. to doubt the truth, validity, or effectiveness of
  3. surmise

Mistrust (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something

    "had an unfortunate mistrust of doctors, so her medical condition was allowed to worsen"

    similar: distrust, distrustfulness, doubt, dubiety, dubitation (archaic), incertitude, misdoubt, misgiving, mistrustfulness, query, reservation, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainty
    related: disbelief, incredulity, unbelief, anxiety, concern, paranoia, wariness, compunction, niggle (chiefly British), qualm, scruple, tremor
    opposite: assurance, belief, certainty, certitude, confidence, conviction, sureness, surety, trust
    near: credence, faith

Mistrust (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to have no trust or confidence in

    "a recluse who mistrusts her neighbors and stays in her house all day"

    similar: distrust, doubt, misdoubt, question, suspect
    related: disbelieve, discount, discredit, negate
    opposite: trust
    near: bank (on or upon), count (on or upon), depend (on or upon), rely (on or upon)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Mistrust

The most common words with a similar meaning to Mistrust:

Archaic: dubitation
distrust, distrustfulness, doubt, dubiety, incertitude, misdoubt, misgiving, mistrustfulness, query, reservation, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainty, question, suspect

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Mistrust

Words with the opposite meaning of Mistrust:

assurance, belief, certainty, certitude, confidence, conviction, sureness, surety, trust

Related Words for Mistrust

disbelief, incredulity, unbelief, anxiety, concern, paranoia, wariness, compunction, niggle, qualm, scruple, tremor, disbelieve, discount, discredit, negate

Near Antonyms of Mistrust

credence, faith, bank (on or upon), count (on or upon), depend (on or upon), rely (on or upon)

Word Forms of Mistrust

Inflections: mistrusted, mistrusting, mistrusts

Derived words: mistrustful (adjective), mistrustfully (adverb), mistrustfulness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Mistrust

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Mistrust

What does "Mistrust" mean?

"Mistrust" means a lack of confidence, distrust. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a lack of confidence, distrust. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Mistrust"?

Other words for "Mistrust" include distrust, distrustfulness, doubt, dubiety, dubitation, incertitude, misdoubt and misgiving. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Mistrust" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Mistrust"?

There are 32 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Mistrust". Common alternatives include distrust, distrustfulness, doubt, dubiety, dubitation, incertitude, misdoubt, misgiving, mistrustfulness and query.

What is the opposite of "Mistrust"?

Antonyms of "Mistrust" include assurance, belief, certainty, certitude, confidence, conviction, sureness and surety. Near antonyms include credence, faith, bank (on or upon) and count (on or upon).

How do you use "Mistrust" in a sentence?

Examples of "Mistrust" in a sentence: "had an unfortunate mistrust of doctors, so her medical condition was allowed to worsen"; "a recluse who mistrusts her neighbors and stays in her house all day".

Is "Mistrust" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Mistrust" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Mistrust"?

"Mistrust" is pronounced /ˌmis-ˈtrəst/ and divided into syllables as mis·trust.

What is the origin of the word "Mistrust"?

First known use: 14th century.