a reason to distrust

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a reason to distrust" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing situations or evidence that lead someone to feel skeptical or untrusting towards a person, organization, or information. Example: "The lack of transparency in their financial dealings provides a reason to distrust their claims of integrity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But that's a reason to distrust this show.

The New York Times

But we see this as a reason to distrust politics rather than markets.

Forbes

We worked together to make decisions, consulted with each other on large purchases, and never gave a reason to distrust each other.

Huffington Post

The video was posted by Ajith Thala, who describes himself as someone with a "vendetta" against the police, citing incidents like the altercation in the video as a reason to distrust them.

Vice

Explain why you no longer feel able to remain friends (breach of trust, a loss of honesty, outgrowing each other, etc).. Realize that while what has happened was disloyal, you cannot shoulder the blame for what happened or use it as a reason to distrust other people from this point.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

We don't want to give anyone any reason to distrust us".

The New York Times

I didn't have any reason to believe it was false or any reason to distrust the author or the information".

The New York Times - Books

"I went in knowing they had every reason to distrust a Deep South law enforcement officer in a race-based case," said Mr. Baxley, who was considered a new breed of Alabama prosecutor.

The New York Times

"There's no reason to distrust a new rug," said Mr. Eiland, the author of "Oriental Rugs Today: A Guide to the Best New Carpets From the East," (Berkeley Hills Books, 2003).

The New York Times - Tech

That they didn't is a fucking disgrace and one more reason to distrust the craven groupthink instincts of the national political media or one more reason to light up a joint with your same-sex partner and ignore the debates completely.  .

Vice

When it looks like there's a door in front of me, this perceptual state justifies me in believing that there is a door there, provided I have no reason to distrust this appearance.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a reason to distrust", clearly state what is causing the distrust and avoid vague statements. For example, specify the actions, statements, or circumstances that justify the lack of trust.

Common error

Avoid using "a reason to distrust" to justify broad generalizations about entire groups of people. Focus on specific behaviors or evidence rather than making sweeping assumptions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a reason to distrust" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a justification or cause for lacking confidence or trust in someone or something. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a reason to distrust" serves to denote a justification for lacking confidence in a person, entity, or concept. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct. While relatively uncommon, it appears in diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media sources, implying a neutral register. When using "a reason to distrust", it's crucial to clearly articulate the specific cause of the distrust and avoid overgeneralizations. Alternatives such as "cause for mistrust" or "grounds for suspicion" can provide similar meaning with slightly altered emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reason to be skeptical

A more direct rewording, changing the noun "distrust" to the adjective "skeptical".

grounds for suspicion

Replaces "reason" with "grounds" and "distrust" with "suspicion", focusing on the justification for mistrust.

cause for mistrust

Substitutes "reason" with "cause" and "distrust" with "mistrust", highlighting the origin of the lack of trust.

basis for skepticism

Uses "basis" instead of "reason" and "skepticism" in place of "distrust", emphasizing a questioning attitude.

justification for doubt

Employs "justification" and "doubt", indicating a reasoned lack of certainty.

justification for wariness

Expresses the idea of having a valid reason to be cautious or on guard.

warrant for disbelief

Replaces "reason" with "warrant" and "distrust" with "disbelief", suggesting a justification for not believing something.

a valid concern

This is a less direct way of implying distrust, by focusing on the legitimacy of worries.

a source of apprehension

This phrase focuses more on the unease or worry caused by something, rather than direct distrust.

something to be wary of

Shifts the focus to the need for caution and vigilance due to potential untrustworthiness.

FAQs

How can I use "a reason to distrust" in a sentence?

You can use "a reason to distrust" to explain why someone might not trust a person, entity, or piece of information. For example, "The company's history of misleading advertising provides "a reason to distrust" their current claims."

What are some alternatives to "a reason to distrust"?

Some alternatives include "cause for mistrust", "grounds for suspicion", or "basis for skepticism", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "reason to distrust" or "reasons to distrust"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "reason to distrust" is used when referring to a single, specific cause, while "reasons to distrust" is used when referring to multiple causes or a general pattern.

What's the difference between "a reason to distrust" and "a reason to doubt"?

"A reason to distrust" implies a lack of faith in someone's honesty or reliability, while "a reason to doubt" suggests uncertainty or questioning the truth of something. Distrust is a stronger sentiment than simply doubting.