What's the Difference Between 'Distrust' and 'Mistrust'?
In this blog post we look at when to use distrust and when to use mistrust.
'Distrust' or 'Mistrust'?
Distrust" and "mistrust" both refer to a lack of trust or confidence in someone or something. However, there is a subtle difference in the connotations of these two words.
"Distrust" suggests a strong or deep-seated lack of trust or confidence. For example, "The employee had a deep distrust of her boss and didn't believe anything he said."
"Mistrust," on the other hand, suggests a more general or superficial lack of trust or confidence. For example, "The traveler had a mistrust of taxi drivers in the city and preferred to use ride-sharing apps."
Mistrust and distrust can be based on a variety of factors, including feelings, experience, knowledge, past behavior, or other reasons.
It is possible that someone may mistrust someone or something based on their feelings or intuition, while someone else may distrust someone or something based on their past experience or knowledge.
In general, "distrust" suggests a more intense or serious lack of trust, while "mistrust" suggests a more casual or superficial lack of trust.
Here are some examples to illustrate the difference between "distrust" and "mistrust":
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The customer had a deep distrust of the company's products and refused to buy from them. (implies a strong or deep-seated lack of trust)
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The student had a mistrust of online sources and only used primary sources for research. (implies a more general or superficial lack of trust)
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The employee had a deep distrust of the management team and refused to follow their orders. (implies a strong or deep-seated lack of trust)
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The traveler had a mistrust of unfamiliar brands and only bought products from trusted companies. (implies a more general or superficial lack of trust)
Examples of Distrust in a Sentence
Here are 10 example sentences using the word "distrust":
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The employee had a distrust of her boss and didn't believe anything he said.
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The customer had a deep distrust of the company's products and refused to buy from them.
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The student had a distrust of online sources and only used primary sources for research.
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The employee had a distrust of the management team and refused to follow their orders.
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The traveler had a distrust of unfamiliar brands and only bought products from trusted companies.
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The employee had a deep distrust of the company's promises and refused to sign the contract.
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The student had a distrust of the accuracy of Wikipedia and only used reputable sources for research.
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The traveler had a distrust of the safety of small planes and only flew on larger planes.
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The customer had a distrust of the quality of the store's products and refused to shop there.
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The employee had a deep distrust of the HR department and refused to file a complaint.
Examples of Mistrust in a Sentence
Here are 10 example sentences using the word "mistrust":
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The traveler had a mistrust of taxi drivers in the city and preferred to use ride-sharing apps.
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The employee had a mistrust of the new coworker and decided to keep a close eye on their work.
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The student had a mistrust of the reliability of online sources and double-checked all of her information.
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The customer had a mistrust of the honesty of the salesperson and asked for a second opinion.
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The traveler had a mistrust of the safety of small hotels and only stayed at large chain hotels.
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The employee had a mistrust of the motivation of the new boss and kept a low profile.
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The student had a mistrust of the accuracy of Wikipedia and only used primary sources for research.
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The traveler had a mistrust of the cleanliness of street food and only ate at reputable restaurants.
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The customer had a mistrust of the quality of the store's products and did extensive research before making a purchase.
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The employee had a mistrust of the fairness of the promotion process and decided to speak up.
