Mistrusts

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To have a feeling of doubt about someone's honesty or motives
2. To regard someone or something with suspicion or lack of confidence
3. To be wary of trusting another's intentions or truthfulness

Etymology: "Mistrusts" is the third-person singular form of the verb "mistrust," so it carries the same history as the base word. "Mistrust" is a compound of the prefix "mis-," meaning wrongly or badly, and "trust," which goes back to a Norse-influenced root meaning confidence or reliance. Put together, the word literally describes trusting wrongly or failing to put faith in someone or something. The form "mistrust" came into Middle English, where it was a noun meaning lack of trust before it developed the verb use found today. The verb "mistrusts" simply adds the -s ending used with he, she, or it in the present tense.

Synonyms: distrusts, doubts, suspicion, skepticism, wariness

Antonyms: trusts, believes, confides, relies, assures