credulous
[krej-uh-luhs]
- willing to believe or trust too readily, especially without proper or adequate evidence; gullible.
- marked by or arising from credulity: a credulous rumor.
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Origin of credulous
1570–80; < Latin crēdulus, equivalent to crēd(ere) to believe + -ulus adj. suffix denoting a quality or tendency; see -ous
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
believinggreensimpletrustinguncriticalunsophisticatedunsuspectingunwarydupableunquestioningacceptingtrustfulExamples from the Web for credulous
Contemporary Examples
But instead of fighting the trend, too many of us simply capitulate—lazy, credulous fools that we are.
It is bad enough when credulous but healthy people buy worthless cleanse kits and eat too much kale.
And another story today at the Jewish Press, under a credulous headline, admitted the story might not be right in its lede.
How Israeli Government Officials Fueled A Conspiracy Website Story About IranAli Gharib
January 28, 2013
I am increasingly convinced that liberals are repeating the mistakes made by credulous Bush-era conservatives.
We cynically reject any attempt at sincerity nowadays, but when it comes to the past we are as credulous as little children.
Historical Examples
She smiled the credulous smile of ignorant innocence and pulled the gate open.
Good IndianB. M. Bower
As for the necklace, I will pay for it myself, and so pay for my credulous folly.
The Historical Nights' EntertainmentRafael Sabatini
The spy was devout to the point of bigoted, credulous superstition.
The Historical Nights' EntertainmentRafael Sabatini
Madame de Montespan was as credulous as only the very devout can be.
The Historical Nights' EntertainmentRafael Sabatini
Then, sternly: "Think you I came here to play the credulous husband?"
credulous
- tending to believe something on little evidence
- arising from or characterized by credulitycredulous beliefs
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin crēdulus, from crēdere to believe
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for credulous
adj.
1570s, from Latin credulus "that easily believes, trustful," from credere "to believe" (see credo). Related: Credulously; credulousness.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper