as in gullibility
readiness to believe the claims of others without sufficient evidence
the quack pushing the phony medicine was taking advantage of the credulity of people hoping for miracle cures
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Recent Examples of credulity
Bollen’s own professional background is in market research, and, being well versed in the ways in which popular credulity is leveraged, she is also equipped to cast skepticism upon research findings whose standards fall short.
—
Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
But many lawmakers, including some Republicans, said that explanation strained credulity given the scale of the mission.
—Nik Popli, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
Except for the fact that, straining credulity, Epstein is real.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 17 Nov. 2025
To imagine Israel blindsiding Washington in this most sensitive theater strains credulity.
—Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for credulity
Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
But many lawmakers, including some Republicans, said that explanation strained credulity given the scale of the mission.
—Nik Popli, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
Except for the fact that, straining credulity, Epstein is real.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 17 Nov. 2025
To imagine Israel blindsiding Washington in this most sensitive theater strains credulity.
—Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for credulity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for credulity
Noun
-
These forces—economic uncertainty, political division, and toxic algorithms—work in a vicious cycle to try and tell us that empathy is weakness… that kindness is gullibility… that sincerity is for suckers.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The Enlightenment faith in reason, science, and free speech, already weakened by the First World War, had been devastated by an unprecedented bureaucracy of mass death, sustained by technology, systematic deceit, widespread gullibility, and eager acquiescence.—
Victor J. Blue,
Harpers Magazine,
23 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Over the years, one of these pass catchers tends to inspire some belief over the summer.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Early cultures, including Native American tribes, looked to the heavens for time keeping, spiritual beliefs and navigation.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This was the most straightforward, efficient episode of the season, pleasurable in its simplicity, with only one gimmick (the to-go orders) that barely made a difference to the episode’s outcome.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
28 Apr. 2026
-
That simplicity is an advantage that baseball has over hockey, where everything moves so much faster and the plays don’t happen in discrete chunks.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Runway is under fire after shilling for fast fashion, and Andy is there to credibility-wash the mag.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Marathons are an important moment for performance brands, because this is where credibility is built, says On CMO Alex Griffin.—
Madeleine Schulz,
Vogue,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Credulity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/credulity. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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