Distrust, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distrusted; p. pr. & vb. n. Distrusting.]
Etymology: [Cf. Mistrust.]
To feel absence of trust in; not to confide in or rely upon; to deem of questionable sufficiency or reality; to doubt; to be suspicious of; to mistrust. Not distrusting my health. 2 Mac. ix. 22. To distrust the justice of your cause. Dryden. He that requireth the oath doth distrust that other. Udall. Of all afraid, Distrusting all, a wise, suspicious maid. Collins.
Note: Mistrust has been almost wholly driven out by distrust. T. L. K. Oliphant.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Distrust, n.
1. Doubt of sufficiency, reality, or sincerity; want of confidence, faith, or reliance; as, distrust of one's power, authority, will, purposes, schemes, etc.
2. Suspicion of evil designs. Alienation and distrust . . . are the growth of false principles. D. Webster.
3. State of being suspected; loss of trust. Milton.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for distrust; he lists it under doubt.
Where he writes about it:
Distrust may express simply a lack of confidence; as, I distrust my own judgment; or it may be nearly equivalent to suspect; as, I distrusted that man from the start. — from doubt
Mistrust and suspect imply that one is almost assured of positive evil; one may distrust himself or others; he suspects others. — from doubt
Distrust is always serious; mistrust is often used playfully. — from doubt
Distrust and suspicion apply especially to the motives, character, etc., of others, and are more decidedly adverse than doubt. — from doubt