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

Other Word Forms

• credulously adverb
• credulousness noun
• noncredulous adjective
• noncredulously adverb
• noncredulousness noun
• overcredulous adjective
• overcredulously adverb
• overcredulousness noun
• uncredulous adjective
• uncredulously adverb
• uncredulousness 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

There was still some part of him, however, that was as credulous as the little kid who lent his new bike to a total stranger.

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But the vital factor in his success was having a rich and credulous brother-in-law.

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Psychologists know that people are credulous about the cognitive abilities of those who matter to them, overinterpreting simple responses as signs of cogitation.

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The notion that being trans is a "social contagion" has blossomed into a full-blown moral panic, widely accepted by credulous mainstream media.

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With the 9/11 attacks not far in the past, Bush enjoyed months of credulous press coverage for his lies.

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