1
as in skeptical
inclined to doubt or question claims
we were mistrustful of the so-called "miracle cure" for obesity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unsure
not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something
inhabitants of that remote community tend to be mistrustful of outsiders
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mistrustful
In the Epistle to the Galatians, Paul strains to show that the Gentile mission and the Jerusalem mission, though carried out by mutually mistrustful parties, belong to a single divine design.
—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
People are mistrustful of government at all levels right now, according to Larson.
—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Initially mistrustful of each other, the two men bond over Molina's stories about movie star Ingrid Luna (Jennifer Lopez) and her starring role in the eponymous film-within-a-film.
—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
People are mistrustful of government at all levels right now, according to Larson.
—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Initially mistrustful of each other, the two men bond over Molina's stories about movie star Ingrid Luna (Jennifer Lopez) and her starring role in the eponymous film-within-a-film.
—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistrustful
Adjective
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When Axsome went public in 2015, Wall Street was skeptical and the company’s stock puttered along under $10 for years.
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Contrary to what the public has been led to believe, America’s Founding Fathers were skeptical and anxious about democracy.
Adjective
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Standards are high at the Etihad Stadium after 10 years of Guardiola and Manchester City is counting on Maresca being the right man to keep this going even if many of the club’s own supporters are unsure.
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People are unsure about the industry for good reason, with everything happening with AI and in the world.
Adjective
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Large-scale events involve tabletop exercises with law enforcement, fire departments, emergency managers and venue officials running through countless scenarios — evacuations, suspicious packages, drones and crowd surges.
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Residents who witness suspicious activity can contact non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111 or call 911 when appropriate.
Adjective
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For now, advocates say preparation and persistence are critical as the community faces an uncertain future.
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The bold story choice, which reunites the staff for what may be their final kitchen service as the restaurant faces an uncertain future, was met with enthusiasm from the cast.
Adjective
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Berkeley adopted a more cautious approach.
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The data also points to a more cautious approach to automation than much of the AI industry’s messaging might suggest.
Adjective
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Rob-Will has the support of his adoring wildchild daughter, Oreana (Natalie Alyn Lind), but not of openly distrustful Rip, who gave the gun-toting Rob-Will that punch felt around the Dutton universe in their gas station first meeting.
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This complicated web of lies, betrayals, and cover-ups leads her to be distrustful.
Adjective
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Just be careful not to add water, since even tiny amounts can cause melted chocolate to turn into a grainy, clumpy mess.
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Ultimately, the widespread adoption of AI for mental health constitutes a global experiment with both potential benefits and serious downsides that require careful management.
Cite this Entry
“Mistrustful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistrustful. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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