distrustful
Full of doubt
Distrustful describes a disposition to doubt or suspect others' motives, honesty, or reliability.
Someone distrustful withholds trust until it's earned—or never extends it at all: She remained distrustful of his promises after being burned before.
The word suggests wariness born of experience or temperament rather than paranoia.
Inclined to distrust
- waryGuardedly alert
- skepticalInclined to question claims
- guardedWary and restrained
- cynicalDoubting human goodness
doubtful · leery · mistrustful · questioning · uncertain · hesitant · cautious · reserved
Doubting human goodness
- skepticalInclined to question claims
- antiestablishmentOpposed to dominant institutions
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- dissentingExpressing disagreement formally
critical · wary · suspicious · disenchanted · disillusioned · alienated · marginalized · oppositional
suspicious
Inclined to distrust
cynical · doubtful · leery · mistrustful · questioning · uncertain · hesitant · cautious · reserved · defensive
cynical
Doubting human goodness
- skepticalInclined to question claims
- antiestablishmentOpposed to dominant institutions
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
dissenting · critical · wary · suspicious · disenchanted · disillusioned · alienated · marginalized · oppositional · resistant
insecure
Lacking self-assurance
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- traumaLasting psychological wound
wounded · hypervigilant · fearful · avoidant · defensive · guarded · withdrawn · isolated · scarred · untrusting
distrustfulcredulous
Prone to blind trust
gullible · naive · unsuspecting · uncritical · unquestioning