Trust vs. mistrust! In the English language, the fact that two words have the same root doesn’t necessarily mean that they have similar meanings. A prefix can change the meaning completely, often making it the opposite and thus creating confusion for those who are learning and speaking English. Take, for example, trust and mistrust. Three letters added at the beginning of the second word almost make these two antonyms.
Trust vs. Mistrust
TRUST can be a noun meaning “belief in the reliability and the ability of a person to do something” or a verb that means “to believe that someone is capable of doing something”. On the other hand, MISTRUST can be a noun that means “lack of trust” or a verb that means “to have no confidence in”.
Examples:
- I know I can trust her in any circumstance.
- Don’t put your trust in that man; he may trick you.
- His charm is undeniable, but I still mistrust him.
- He had a deep mistrust of the legal profession.
When to Use Trust vs. Mistrust
Trusting someone is a good thing. For example, you need to trust your significant other in order for your relationship to be loving and healthy. If someone believes in your abilities to do something, you should try not to violate their trust and, indeed, do what they expect you to do. You might have also heard the phrase “trust issues”. It means that, for one reason or the other, someone struggles to believe what other people tell and promise them.
Mistrust is almost the opposite. For instance, if a woman has been treated badly by two of her previous boyfriends, she is likely to develop mistrust towards all men in general. If you have never been abroad, you might have a mistrust towards everything foreign. Finally, if the workers notice that the management of their company is lying to them, they will start mistrusting it.
Using trust instead of mistrust or vice versa in a sentence might lead to a lot of confusion, so it’s very important to remember the difference between two words. Think that the prefix mis- usually adds a negative meaning to the word, e.g. misunderstanding, misadventure. If you remember this, you will have no problem remembering that mistrust means “lack of trust” and using this word correctly.
Trust vs. Mistrust Examples
- I realized that my trust in him was misplaced.
- Trust is like an eraser. It gets smaller and smaller after every mistake.
- With that cynical outlook, he doesn’t trust anyone.
- Just trust yourself, then you will know how to live.
- I trust the people who teach me not to trust anyone.
- She has a deep mistrust of anything new or strange.
- She showed a great mistrust of doctors.
- The mistrust remained with him like a pebble in a shoe.
- He began to mistrust and fear for his life.
- She had an ingrained mistrust of politicians.
Difference between Mistrust vs. Trust | Picture
Trust vs. Mistrust: How to Use Trust vs. Mistrust Correctly?
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