credulous

American  

[krej-uh-luhs] / ˈkrɛdʒ ə ləs /

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.

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credulous British  

/ ˈkrɛdjʊləs /

adjective

1. tending to believe something on little evidence

2. arising from or characterized by credulity

   credulous beliefs

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of credulous

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

Explanation

People who believe things easily without having to be convinced are credulous. Sales people are always hoping that someone credulous picks up the phone during a sales call. Credulous comes from the 16th-century Latin credulus, or "easily believes." A synonym for credulous is gullible, and both terms describe a person who accepts something willingly without a lot of supporting facts. Calling someone credulous can imply that the person is naive and simple. An individual isn't necessarily insulted by being called credulous, though, because some objects of belief, like religions and unicorns, come with a willing leap of faith for believing in what is unseen.

Example Sentences

Madison, Hamilton, et al. would wonder at our credulous view of human nature.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026

It’s because, compared with institutions, retail investors are credulous, vulnerable to hype, and given to hanging on to a stock long after institutions have done the math on an underperforming investment and exited.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026

The three‑act farce tells the story of a credulous father whose obsession with astrology leads him to force his young daughter to marry an old wigmaker.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

The shift served as a reminder to anyone credulous enough to have been taken in by his performance that the leopard does not change its spots.

From Salon • Apr. 29, 2026

In my confused and credulous state, the sight of the man in the demon mask startled me into wakefulness, the seductive warmth I had felt a moment ago vanished, leaving my body limp and leaden.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss