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Prepositions after adjectives

Distrustful of, in, about, at or for?

Distrustful is most commonly followed by of to show suspicion or lack of trust. Other prepositions usually introduce separate ideas rather than standard adjective patterns.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows distrustful?

Use distrustful of when you do not trust someone or something. In, about, at, and for usually belong to other parts of the sentence rather than fixed combinations with distrustful.

She is naturally distrustful of strangers.
Many voters became distrustful of the government.
He sounded distrustful about the proposal.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
distrustful of + person/thing

Showing lack of trust

Of is the standard preposition after distrustful.

They were distrustful of online reviews.
The child grew distrustful of adults.
2
distrustful about + topic

Expressing suspicion about a matter

About can introduce a topic causing suspicion, though distrustful of is more common overall.

Investors were distrustful about the sudden changes.
She felt distrustful about the company's motives.
3
distrustful in + situation

Describing behaviour in a context

In usually introduces the situation where distrust appears rather than a fixed adjective pattern.

He became distrustful in negotiations.
People may seem distrustful in unfamiliar environments.
4
distrustful at + reaction

Referring to a moment or cause

At can appear before the thing causing the reaction, but it is less common than of.

She looked distrustful at first sight of the contract.
They were distrustful at the sudden offer.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
distrustful of
He is distrustful of politicians.
standard pattern for lack of trust
distrustful in
She becomes distrustful in competitive situations.
in introduces a context or situation
distrustful about
They were distrustful about the plan.
about introduces the topic causing suspicion
distrustful at
He sounded distrustful at the suggestion.
less common; at points to the trigger or moment
distrustful for
This construction is not idiomatic in modern English.
for is generally not used after distrustful

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using for after distrustful

For is not a natural preposition after distrustful.

✕ She is distrustful for strangers. ✓ She is distrustful of strangers.

Omitting the preposition

Distrustful normally needs of before the object.

✕ They are distrustful the media. ✓ They are distrustful of the media.

Using at instead of of for general distrust

Of is the standard choice for people or institutions.

✕ He is distrustful at banks. ✓ He is distrustful of banks.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Many citizens are distrustful ___ large corporations.
2. She became distrustful ___ the project's sudden changes.
3. People may seem distrustful ___ unfamiliar situations.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the standard preposition after distrustful?

The standard pattern is distrustful of someone or something.

Can I say distrustful about?

Yes. It can introduce a topic or situation that causes suspicion.

Is distrustful for correct?

No. Distrustful for is not an idiomatic modern English combination.

daily, for, daily, with, daily, in damaging to, for, of, in or as? damn about, near, for, to or as? "dangerous for" or "dangerous to"? "dark in", "dark for" or "dark of"? "daunting for" or "daunting to"? dead in, on, by, at or of? deadly to, in, for, of or with? "deaf to" or "deaf in"? dear to, in, for, of or as? deceased in, to, for, at or on? "decent in" or "decent for"?

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