credulous

[ krej-uh-luhs ]

adjective

1. willing to believe or trust too readily, especially without proper or adequate evidence; gullible.

   Synonyms: unsuspecting, trustful

2. marked by or arising from credulity:

   a credulous rumor.

credulous

/ ˈkrɛdjʊləs /

adjective

1. tending to believe something on little evidence
2. arising from or characterized by credulity

   credulous beliefs

Derived Forms

• ˈcredulously, adverb
• ˈcredulousness, noun

Other Words From

• credu·lous·ly adverb
• credu·lous·ness noun
• non·credu·lous adjective
• non·credu·lous·ly adverb
• non·credu·lous·ness noun
• over·credu·lous adjective
• over·credu·lous·ly adverb
• over·credu·lous·ness noun
• un·credu·lous adjective
• un·credu·lous·ly adverb
• un·credu·lous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of credulous¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin crēdulus, equivalent to crēdere “to believe” + -ulus adjective suffix denoting a quality or tendency; -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of credulous¹

C16: from Latin crēdulus, from crēdere to believe

Example Sentences

But instead of fighting the trend, too many of us simply capitulate—lazy, credulous fools that we are.

From The Daily Beast

It is bad enough when credulous but healthy people buy worthless cleanse kits and eat too much kale.

From The Daily Beast

And another story today at the Jewish Press, under a credulous headline, admitted the story might not be right in its lede.

From The Daily Beast

No major right-wing media figures ever speak out against the widespread practice of constantly bilking credulous old people.

From The Daily Beast

The two stories “were a little bit credulous about who this guy they had on the phone was.”

From The Daily Beast

They emanated from a credulous and superstitious people in an unscientific age and country.

From Project Gutenberg

Seriously, my dear Boulingrin, that there are moments when I wonder which of us two is the more credulous in respect of fairies.

From Project Gutenberg

Paterson buried his wife in that soil which, as he had assured his too credulous countrymen, exhaled health and vigour.

From Project Gutenberg

It was once the fashion to speak of Herodotus as a credulous man, who embodied the most improbable though interesting stories.

From Project Gutenberg

Others, more timid or less credulous, hesitated in believing those marvels.

From Project Gutenberg