generate distrust

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "generate distrust" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions or behaviors that lead to a lack of trust among individuals or groups. Example: "The constant misinformation in the media can generate distrust among the public towards government institutions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"Trust me," "don't worry," "fudging" (now known as "spin control") all generate distrust and fear.

The New York Times

Together, we will defeat those who try to generate distrust through violence.

The New Yorker

This puts the customer in a position of weakness instead of empowerment, and can generate distrust toward the brand.

Huffington Post

Yet that reflexive impulse can itself generate distrust when such responses eventually come to light, as they often do - as when, for example, Hillary was shown to be less than forthright over her emails.

Huffington Post

If engagement of care givers and the community is neglected, then mass casualty standards could be misinterpreted and generate distrust or fail to be implemented during a disaster.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

By generating distrust, he said, the operation created "more risk".

The New York Times

He added both also reinforce a sense of isolation by generating distrust of the state and offer "warped parallel alternatives" that undermine values of tolerance and diversity.

The Guardian

Their task was complicated by the ongoing religious wars, which generated distrust, narrowed contacts, and jeopardized the reporting that was essential before newspapers were widespread.

Britannica

Stop and search has the potential to cause immense resentment and honesty to the police, with all the implications that has for generating distrust and ending co-operation from the public, if it is not used fairly".

The Guardian

It has been argued that the eugenics movement generated distrust towards genetic science in society (Critchley et al. 2014; Tabery 2015) causing the public to shy away from anything that represents a deterministic view of genetic influence.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

But if publicizing a doctrine generates distrust from a real audience merely because of people's attraction for simplicity or non-demandingness, the frustration flowing from such a distrust should hardly be considered relevant to the assessment of the maxim's (in)justice.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "generate distrust", consider the specific nuance you want to convey: is it an intentional act, an unintentional consequence, or a general trend?

Common error

While "generate distrust" is acceptable, overuse in highly formal writing can make your prose sound repetitive. Consider varying your language with alternatives like "foster suspicion" or "create mistrust" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "generate distrust" functions as a verb phrase, where "generate" is the verb and "distrust" is the direct object. It expresses the action of causing or producing a lack of trust. Ludwig confirms this usage with real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "generate distrust" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for describing the act of causing a lack of trust. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's found in various contexts, including news, science, and business. While versatile, consider the nuances of synonyms like "create mistrust" or "foster suspicion" to refine your meaning. Be mindful of overuse, especially in formal writing. When writing in English, remember that while this phrase is correct, there are plenty of alternatives that can make your writing more dynamic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

create mistrust

Focuses on the action of creating a lack of trust, similar to generating it.

foster suspicion

Implies nurturing or encouraging the development of suspicion, a type of distrust.

breed mistrust

Suggests that distrust arises organically and spreads, often unintentionally.

sow seeds of distrust

Emphasizes a deliberate action to introduce distrust.

engender skepticism

Focuses on creating doubt or questioning, a form of distrust in information.

give rise to suspicion

Indicates that something causes suspicion to emerge.

provoke mistrust

Highlights the act of instigating mistrust as a response.

incite disbelief

Suggests stimulating a lack of belief or trust.

plant seeds of doubt

Emphasizes the introduction of uncertainty, leading to distrust.

trigger wariness

Focuses on causing a state of caution and lack of complete trust.

FAQs

How can I use "generate distrust" in a sentence?

You can use "generate distrust" to describe actions or situations that cause a lack of trust. For example: "The company's misleading advertising /s/generate+distrust/ generated distrust among consumers".

What are some synonyms for "generate distrust"?

Alternatives to "generate distrust" include "create mistrust", "foster suspicion", or "breed mistrust". The best choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "generate distrust" and "engender distrust"?

"Generate distrust" and "engender distrust" are very similar. "Engender" often implies a more gradual or subtle creation of distrust.

Is "generate distrust" formal or informal?

"Generate distrust" is suitable for a variety of contexts, from neutral news reporting to academic discussions. However, consider more nuanced alternatives for highly formal or informal settings.