A strong trust synonym for the verb is rely on, depend on or count on; for the noun, reach for confidence or faith. Trust can also mean handing something over (entrust) or politely hoping (I trust you are well), and each use takes different words.
The sections below keep verbs and nouns apart, flag formal and casual options, and explain grammar traps like trust in versus rely on. If your sentence is about believing something is true, the believe synonyms page may fit better.
Swatch at a glance
Best verb swaps
rely on, depend on, count on, believe inBest noun swaps
confidence, faith, belief, reliancePart of speech
Verb and nounMost formal
credence, place confidence in, presumeMost casual
bank on, swear byAntonyms
distrust, mistrust, doubt, suspectWord forms covered
trusted, trusting, trustworthy
Each trust synonym that works as a verb
Most verb swaps need a preposition tacked on. Trust takes a direct object (trust your team), but rely, depend and count need on.
| Synonym | Shade | Example |
|---|---|---|
| rely on | neutral, practical | We rely on this supplier for parts. |
| depend on | needs it to work | The plan depends on your help. |
| count on | friendly, personal | You can count on me. |
| believe in | faith in character or ability | I believe in this team. |
| have faith in | deep, sometimes moral | She has faith in her students. |
| bank on | casual, about outcomes | Do not bank on good weather. |
| swear by | strong praise for a product or method | He swears by morning walks. |
Nouns for trust: confidence, faith and more
Need another word for trust in noun form? Confidence is the closest swap and works in business and politics: public confidence in the bank fell. Faith is warmer and can carry a religious or emotional note. Belief stresses what you think is true. Reliance means depending on something, which can be neutral or a little negative (overreliance on one client). Credence, a formal word, is about treating a claim as believable: the report gave credence to the rumor.
More on the noun side lives on the confidence synonyms page.
Climbing the trust ladder
The strip at the top climbs from count on, which you might text a friend, through rely on and depend on, which suit reports, to have faith in, which sounds heartfelt. Place confidence in tops the scale and turns up in speeches and legal writing. A useful rule: if you would say it aloud to a friend, count on is fine; if a board will read it, rely on is safer.
Swaps in emails, essays and chats
- I trust you with the keys becomes I am entrusting you with the keys.
- Customers trust our brand becomes customers have confidence in our brand.
- Can I trust you to finish this? becomes can I count on you to finish this?
- I trust this email finds you well becomes I hope this email finds you well.
- Voters no longer trust the council becomes voters have lost faith in the council.
- We trust the data becomes we rely on the data.
A team lead wrote in a message: "I trust you all and I trust the plan." Reworked, it became "I have full confidence in each of you, and I believe in this plan." The two halves now carry different weight, which makes the message sound considered rather than repetitive.
Trusted, trusting and trustworthy
Trusted (adjective) swaps for reliable, respected or dependable: a trusted adviser becomes a reliable adviser. Trusting describes a person who believes others easily; try unsuspecting, open or naive if it goes too far. Trustworthy means deserving trust and pairs with honest, dependable and principled. The integrity synonyms page covers that quality as a noun.
When trust turns to doubt
As a verb, trust flips to distrust or mistrust, both close in meaning; distrust tends to be firmer, mistrust vaguer. Doubt, question and suspect are softer and more specific. For the noun, use suspicion, skepticism or wariness.
- Many readers distrust anonymous reviews.
- Her skepticism about the offer turned out to be wise.
Frequently asked questions
Which trust words suit formal writing?
Confidence is the standard formal noun, and rely on is the standard formal verb. Credence and place confidence in are even more formal.
What is the difference between trust and rely on?
Trust is about belief in someone's honesty or skill. Rely on is about practical dependence. You can rely on a bus you do not especially trust.
How else can I tell someone I trust them?
Try I believe in you, I have faith in you, or you have my full confidence. For tasks, I know I can count on you sounds warm and clear.
What is the opposite of trust?
Distrust and mistrust are the direct opposites. Suspicion and skepticism are the usual noun choices.
Is entrust a synonym for trust?
Only in one sense. Entrust means to give someone responsibility for something: she entrusted him with the files. It cannot replace trust in I trust my sister.