Mistrusted

Mistrusted is an adjective used in English to describe someone or something that is not trusted or viewed with suspicion. It signals a lack of confidence in reliability, motives, or truthfulness and can apply to people, organizations, statements, sources, or information.

Etymology: The word derives from mistrust, formed from mis- indicating negation and trust. Mistrusted is the past participle used to describe something that has already been judged untrustworthy: a mistrusted source, a mistrusted claim.

Usage: In journalism and science, labeling a source as mistrusted suggests that its claims require verification. In politics, a mistrusted actor may face scrutiny or sanctions. In everyday speech, mistrust can arise after deception, inconsistency, or a breach of confidences. Scholars study how trust forms and erodes, noting factors such as transparency, accountability, and credibility.

In writing, mistrusted can function descriptively in narratives but often carries negative connotations and can stigmatize the subject.

See also: mistrust, credibility, skepticism.