Untrustworthy: Definition, Usage & Examples

Meaning 1：not reliable (untrustworthy)

untrustworthy 🔊

/ʌnˈtrʌstˌwɜːrði/

adj.

Describes someone or something that you cannot depend on to be honest or truthful, like a friend who often breaks promises.

Untrustworthy person illustration: nervous individual avoiding eye contact near a torn promise note.

not reliable 🔊

➕

/nɒt rɪˈlaɪəbl/

adj.

Describes a person or thing that cannot be depended on to be honest or truthful.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Formed from prefix 'un-' (not), root 'trust', and suffix '-worthy' (deserving).

💡 Mnemonic

Break it down: 'un' (not) + 'trust' + 'worthy' – if not worthy of trust, they're untrustworthy.

📖 Example

After my friend cancelled our plans for the third time with a weak excuse, I started to think he was becoming untrustworthy. 🔊 My friend's repeated cancellations with poor excuses made me view him as untrustworthy.

🔗 Collocations

untrustworthy source – a source of information that is not reliable

untrustworthy behavior – actions that indicate a lack of honesty

prove untrustworthy – to demonstrate that someone cannot be trusted

🔄 Synonyms

dishonest (adj.) – not truthful or sincere

unreliable (adj.) – not able to be trusted or depended on

deceitful (adj.) – intending to mislead or cheat

🚫 Antonyms

trustworthy (adj.) – able to be relied on as honest or truthful

reliable (adj.) – consistently good in quality or performance

dependable (adj.) – worthy of trust or confidence

🌱 Derivatives

untrustworthiness (n.) – the quality of being untrustworthy

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'untrustworthy' combines the negative prefix 'un-' with 'trustworthy', derived from Old English 'trēow' meaning faith. It is often used in legal and business contexts to label unreliable sources or individuals.