Mistrustful

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Demonstrating a disposition of doubt and skepticism towards the reliability and intentions of individuals
2. Marked by a tendency to question others' integrity and to feel hesitant in forming trustful relationships
3. Having a natural tendency to suspect others' motives and not easily believing what they say

Etymology: "Mistrustful" is a straightforward formation: it combines "mistrust" with the suffix "-ful," which turns a noun into an adjective meaning "full of" or "characterised by" the noun. So a mistrustful person is one full of mistrust. The first part, "mistrust," is itself built from "mis-," a prefix meaning "wrongly" or "badly," attached to "trust," a word of Scandinavian origin that came into English through Middle English. Joined together, the parts describe an attitude of withholding trust, and "-ful" gives the sense of someone who habitually carries that attitude.

Synonyms: suspicious, distrustful, skeptical, cynical, apprehensive

Antonyms: trustful, confident, faithful, assured