Talk:Distrust

Contradictory entries for "distrust" and "mistrust"

The entry for "mistrust" (which is also linked in this article) seems to contradict what is said in this article. According to entry for "mistrust" "Mistrust means 'to doubt, to lack confidence in'. It does not necessarily imply any serious suspicion of malice or bad faith." Yet the article for "distrust" claims that, in fact, "mistrust" indicates a belief in "a hidden agenda." This contradiction between the entries seems to have appeared when 78.145.148.196 (talk • contribs) simply changed the entry for "mistrust" claiming that the old entry was "rubbish."

There was also a note by CharlieRCD (talk • contribs) in the discussion for "mistrust" that claims the OED does not indicate a distinction between the two words. This is incorrect. According to the OED (and discounting definitions classed as obsolete) the verb "distrust" means "to entertain doubts, not rely on," while the verb "mistrust" means "to suspect actions, intentions, motives of" something or someone. This seems to support the distinction in the wikipedia entry for "distrust." Mc2000 (talk) 14:48, 27 May 2011 (UTC)