To distrust means to doubt someone's honesty or reliability, or to believe they might deceive you or let you down. When you distrust someone, you question whether they'll keep their promises or tell you the truth. If your friend borrowed your favorite book three times and returned it damaged each time, you might start to distrust them with your things.

Distrust is different from simple disagreement. You might disagree with your sister about which movie to watch but still trust her completely. Distrust means something deeper: a nagging feeling that someone can't be counted on or might have hidden motives.

The word can apply to more than just people. You might distrust a wobbly ladder before climbing it, or distrust your own memory of whether you locked the front door. Scientists approach new claims with healthy distrust, checking facts carefully before accepting them as true.

Distrust usually builds up over time through broken promises or dishonest behavior, though sometimes people distrust others unfairly because of misunderstandings. Once distrust takes root, it's hard to rebuild trust.