distrustful
/dis'trʌstful/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having or showing a lack of trust; suspicious: Describes a person, attitude, or feeling characterized by doubt about the honesty, reliability, or intentions of someone or something.
- Inclined to doubt or suspect: Expresses a general tendency to be wary or skeptical.
Usage
The adjective "distrustful" describes a state of mind or a characteristic. It is typically used to modify a person or their behavior/attitude. It is often followed by the preposition "of" to indicate the target of the distrust.
Examples
- Adjective:
- She gave him a distrustful glance, unsure if he was telling the truth.
- After being deceived, he became deeply distrustful of strangers.
- The distrustful atmosphere in the office made collaboration difficult.
Advanced Usage
- "distrustful of": This is the most common construction, specifying the object of suspicion.
- The community was distrustful of the new government's promises.
- Used to describe a cautious or vigilant stance born from skepticism.
- He maintained a distrustful vigilance over the proceedings.
Variants and Related Words
- Distrust (n/v): The noun and verb forms. : A feeling of doubt about someone's honesty. : To have no trust in.
- Distrustfully (adv): In a distrustful manner.
- He watched the negotiator distrustfully.
- Trustful (adj): The direct antonym, meaning full of trust.
Synonyms
- Suspicious: Inclined to suspect, especially of wrongdoing.
- Wary: Feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems.
- Cynical: Believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity.
- Leery (informal): Cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions.
Antonyms
- Trusting: Showing or tending to have a belief in someone's honesty or sincerity.
- Trustful: Having or marked by a total belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone.
- Gullible: Easily persuaded to believe something; credulous.
Related Phrases
- With distrustful eyes: Viewing something with suspicion.
- The old guard viewed all technological changes with distrustful eyes.
- A distrustful nature: A personality trait of being prone to distrust.
- His distrustful nature made it hard for him to form close friendships.
Adjective
-
having or showing distrust
-
a man of distrustful nature
-
my experience...in other fields of law has made me distrustful of rules of thumb generally- B.N.Cardozo
-
vigilant and distrustful superintendence- Thomas Jefferson
-
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ tương tự
Từ gần giống
Từ chứa "distrustful"
Từ có nhắc đến "distrustful"
