Basic Details
Word: Distrustful
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Not trusting someone or something; feeling suspicious or cautious about others.
Synonyms: Suspicious, sceptical, cynical
Antonyms: Trustful, confident, certain
Idioms and Phrases
- Trust but verify: A saying that means you should have faith in someone but also check their actions. Example: "She decided to trust but verify her friend's story before believing it completely."
- Barking up the wrong tree: This means to make a mistake in believing that someone is doing something wrong when they are not. Example: "If you think hes the one who broke the vase, youre barking up the wrong tree; it was the cat."
Usage Examples
Example 1: After being cheated in the past, she became distrustful of new friends.
Example 2: The child was distrustful of strangers and hesitated to speak to them.
Example 3: His distrustful nature made him cautious about accepting help from others.
Fun Fact
The word "distrustful" originates from the early 15th century, and it combines "dis-" meaning "not," with "trust," showing a lack of belief or confidence in someone or something.
Famous Quote
"Distrust is the mother of safety." - Francis Bacon
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "distrustful" mean?
a) Completely trusting
b) Not trusting or suspicious
c) Very friendly
d) Extremely happy
Answer: b) Not trusting or suspicious
2. Which of these is a synonym of "distrustful"?
a) Trustful
b) Suspicious
c) Joyful
d) Certain
Answer: b) Suspicious
3. Which word is an antonym of "distrustful"?
a) Distrustful
b) Confident
c) Sceptical
d) Cynical
Answer: b) Confident
4. Which sentence uses "distrustful" correctly?
a) The distrustful cat immediately ran to the stranger.
b) He was distrustful because he had been let down before.
c) The child was distrustful of candy in the shop.
d) She was distrustful that the sun would rise tomorrow.
Answer: b) He was distrustful because he had been let down before.
5. What does the idiom "trust but verify" suggest?
a) Always distrust people
b) Have faith but also check
c) Do not trust anyone
d) Trust everyone without question
Answer: b) Have faith but also check
