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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of credulity In his absence — and the long-term absences, at various times, of Barnes, Quickley, Barrett, Poeltl, Kelly Olynyk and others — the Raptors have had to throw out some lineups that strain credulity as legitimate NBA lineups. Eric Koreen, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024 Confounding elements proliferate the picture, mostly dealing with character behaviors and situations that either strain credulity (like the Santa photo-op still running past the bar’s closing time) or lead to more questions than answers. Courtney Howard, Variety, 19 Nov. 2024 In less assured hands, the combination of genres might have backfired terribly, but director Alan Gibson shepherds the production through its various tones without ever straining credulity in a way that impedes the entertainment value. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2024 But the plot strains credulity to the breaking point. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 27 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for credulity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for credulity
Noun
  • Somehow this belief did not interrupt the flood of her love for Heiss.
    Lillian Fishman, New Yorker, 4 May 2025
  • That belief has led him to support Pete Davidson, who sought treatment to address issues related to PTSD and borderline personality disorder in 2023, and John Mulaney, who has been open about his sobriety journey, according to Morrison.
    Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • Is there intimidation, naivete, fear of being alone?
    EW Staff, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • On the contrary, the narrative voice mixes naivete and disbelief.
    Bartolomeo Sala, The Dial, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The simplicity of pressure washing leads many to dismiss it as a side hustle rather than a scalable business.
    Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025
  • For minimalist interior designers, there’s beauty in simplicity and restraint.
    Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • These collaborations help establish trust and credibility while ensuring that the platform remains a true reflection of local perspectives.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 3 May 2025
  • Congress will soon have an opportunity to ensure that American power -- and the credibility of our commitments -- are appropriately resourced.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Credulity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/credulity. Accessed 18 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on credulity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!