credulity

[ kruh-doo-li-tee, -dyoo- ]

/ krəˈdu lɪ ti, -ˈdyu- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR credulity ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

willingness to believe or trust too readily, especially without proper or adequate evidence; gullibility.

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Nearby words

Origin of credulity

1375–1425; late Middle English credulite < Latin crēdulitās. See credulous, -ity

Related formso·ver·cre·du·li·ty, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for credulity

However, the notion that nearly two-thirds of Iranians want another four years of Ahmadinejad strains any credulity.
An Absurd Outcome|Suzanne Maloney|June 13, 2009|DAILY BEAST
He is wondrous loth to hazard his credulity, and whilst he fears to believe amiss, believes nothing.
Microcosmography|John Earle
Henceforth this credulity became a terrible emulation, and, as it were, a sort of out-bidding one another.
The Apostles|Ernest Renan
This letter remained unanswered for nearly six months, during which another experiment was tried on Joos credulity.
A History of the Inquisition of Spain; vol. 3|Henry Charles Lea

His reports were often false—partly with design, partly from the credulity of panic.
The Loyalists of America and Their Times, Vol. 1 of 2|Egerton Ryerson
His detachment was too great to make any claims, big or small, on one's credulity.
Victory|Joseph Conrad

British Dictionary definitions for credulity

credulity

/ (krɪˈdjuːlɪtɪ) /

noun

disposition to believe something on little evidence; gullibility

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for credulity

credulity

early 15c., from Old French credulité (12c.), from Latin credulitatem (nominative credulitas) "easiness of belief, rash confidence," noun of quality from credulus (see credulous).