I don't trust them here vs Sceptical

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

I don't trust them here

Top 2,000 (common)

Sceptical

Top 3,000 (common)C1adjective
Most common: I don't trust them here
 I don't trust them hereSceptical
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //aɪ dəʊnt trʌst ðɛm hɪə//🇺🇸 //aɪ doʊnt trʌst ðɛm hɪr//🇬🇧 /["/ˈskeptɪkl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈskeptɪkl/"]/
MeaningI think they are not honest with me.Not easily convinced or believing something is true.
ExampleI don't trust them here because they've lied before.She looked highly sceptical.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 3,000 (common)
CEFR level-C1
Part of speechadjective
Collocationstrust someone, trust issues, trust no one, trust in, trust mebe, look, sound, extremely, fairly, very, about, as to, of
Antonyms-trusting, believing, naive
Common mistakesTranslating 'trust' directly into another language without considering context., Confusing 'trust' with 'believe' in certain contexts.'Skeptical' is often confused with 'cynical'., Incorrectly spelled as 'sceptical' in American English rather than British English., Used without the preposition, e.g., 'I'm sceptical the plan' instead of 'I'm sceptical about the plan'.
Usage notesUsed to express doubt or uncertainty about someone's honesty or reliability. Suitable for conversations involving feelings of distrust.Use 'sceptical' when expressing doubt or suspicion about something. It is appropriate in discussions, debates, and academic contexts but may be less common in casual conversations.

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I don't trust them here

Frequently asked questions: I don't trust them here vs Sceptical

What's the difference between I don't trust them here and Sceptical?

I don't trust them here: I think they are not honest with me. Sceptical: Not easily convinced or believing something is true.

Which is more common: I don't trust them here and Sceptical?

I don't trust them here is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

I don't trust them here: I don't trust them here because they've lied before. Sceptical: She looked highly sceptical.

Can I use I don't trust them here and Sceptical interchangeably?

Not always. I don't trust them here and Sceptical are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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