# distrust

/dɪˈstɹəst/ (US) · /dɪstɹˈʌst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/distrust
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. lack of trust

noun · CEFR B2

the feeling that someone or something is not honest or safe.

For teachers: a state of lacking confidence or trust in someone or something; a feeling of suspicion.

- There is a deep distrust of the government among the local people.
- The long history of broken promises created a climate of mutual distrust that made further negotiations almost impossible.

### 2. to not trust

verb · CEFR B2

to feel that you cannot rely on someone or that they are lying to you.

For teachers: to regard with suspicion or to lack confidence in the integrity or reliability of a person or entity.

- She began to distrust his excuses after he lied to her twice.
- Investors began to distrust the company's financial reports after several high-level executives resigned without explanation.

## Examples

- Distrust grows when people hide the truth.
- Public distrust of the bank increased after the scandal broke.
- A deep-seated distrust of authority often stems from early childhood experiences with inconsistent caregivers.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.