distrust
UK: dɪsˈtrʌst | US: dɪsˈtrʌst
n. lack of trust or confidence in someone or something
vt. to regard with suspicion or doubt
distrust = dis<not, opposite of> + trust<confidence, reliance>
- dis: A Latin prefix meaning "not" or "opposite of," often used to negate or reverse the meaning of the root word.
- trust: Derived from Old Norse traust (confidence, help), related to Old English trēowian (to trust).
Etymology Origin:
The word "distrust" emerged in Middle English by combining the negating prefix dis- with trust, reflecting a straightforward reversal of the root's meaning. The prefix dis- has been widely used in English to form antonyms (e.g., disagree, disapprove), while trust originates from Germanic roots tied to reliability and faith. The pairing logically conveys skepticism or lack of faith.
Her distrust of strangers made her hesitant to accept help.
The scandal deepened public distrust in the government.
He couldn’t hide his distrust of the new policy.
Mutual distrust between the teams hindered collaboration.
Years of betrayal had taught her to distrust sweet promises.