distrustful

/dis'trʌstful/

Thân thiện

The new neighbor gave a distrustful glance at the stranger.

Definition

1. 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.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. 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