What does trustworthier mean?
Trustworthier is the comparative form of trustworthy, meaning more worthy of trust and therefore more dependable or reliable. It is normally used when two sources, accounts, people, or claims are being compared, as in “the independent report is trustworthier than the summary.” In everyday speech, writers often choose the clearer phrase “more trustworthy,” but the single comparative form remains standard and is useful in a comparison already. The word carries a positive, evaluative sense: it implies not only that something is credible but that its reliability is the greater of two options. Although “trustworthy” can describe a source without an explicit comparison, “trustworthier” naturally calls for a second candidate or an implied standard. It is especially common in formal, editorial, legal, and workplace contexts, where the degree of confidence in a statement matters. The term is useful because it makes a precise distinction between merely acceptable evidence and the evidence most deserving of belief.
adjectiveThe comparative form of trustworthy, meaning more worthy of trust, more dependable, or more reliable.
- More worthy of trust or confidence; more dependable, reliable, or credible.
"The eyewitness account was trustworthier than the rumor circulating online."
"The eyewitness account was trustworthier than the rumor circulating online."
"Employers often view a completed reference from a former supervisor as trustworthier than a self-summary."
When one source is merely credible and another is trustworthier, the comparison gets to the point in a single word.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of trustworthier
The adjective trustworthy was formed in English by combining trust with worthy. Trust ultimately comes from Old Norse traustr, meaning “steadfastness,” while worthy was developed through Middle English from worth, which traces to Old English weorþ, meaning “value.” The standard comparative suffix -er later produced trustworthier, the form used when reliability is being compared.
Related word forms
How trustworthier is actually used
Trustworthier is standard and grammatically exact, although the phrase more trustworthy is usually more familiar. It is especially common in editorial, legal, academic, and workplace contexts where sources or accounts are being compared.
Easily confused with trustworthier
Trustworthy is the base adjective, while trustworthier is its comparative form and therefore identifies the more trustworthy of two people, sources, or claims.