Distrustful means doubting whether someone or something can be trusted or relied upon. A distrustful person expects others might lie, cheat, or let them down, so they stay cautious and suspicious. If you're distrustful of a classmate who broke a promise before, you might hesitate to believe them again. If someone seems distrustful of you, they might question what you say or watch carefully to see if you'll follow through on your commitments.

Being distrustful differs from simple caution. Caution means being reasonably careful. Distrustfulness goes further: it means assuming the worst or constantly suspecting dishonesty even when there's no clear reason. A distrustful shopper might obsessively check every item on their receipt, convinced the store is trying to overcharge them. A distrustful teammate might assume others aren't working hard, even when everyone is doing their part.

Sometimes distrust makes sense: if someone has repeatedly lied to you, being distrustful protects you from being fooled again. But too much distrust can damage relationships and make life harder.