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
As the second season wears on, this notion warps the plot in ways that strain credulity, and the series’ innumerable cliffhangers gum up the narrative with artificial tension.
—
Daniel A. Gross, The New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for credulity
Daniel A. Gross, The New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for credulity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for credulity
Noun
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Resilient leadership requires an unparalleled ability to adapt without compromising core values, beliefs or foundational principles.—
Novena Riojas,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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By taking these assumptions and beliefs about hair’s relationship to the body seriously, this book reveals how nineteenth-century Americans came to understand their hair as a body part capable of indexing each person’s race, gender, and national belonging.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2025
Noun
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Is there intimidation, naivete, fear of being alone?—
EW Staff,
EW.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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On the contrary, the narrative voice mixes naivete and disbelief.—
Bartolomeo Sala,
The Dial,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Conduct an internal discovery and simplicity audit.—
Deanna Laster,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2025
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While a game like No Man's Sky, with its procedural generation and ambition, might be more stunning, there's something uniquely charming and satisfying about the simplicity of Astroneer.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
7 June 2025
Noun
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By offering legal certainty, institutional-grade infrastructure, and reputational credibility, these jurisdictions are becoming the preferred environments for serious and sustainable cryptocurrency ventures.—
Irina Heaver,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Below, the members of Rolling Stone Culture Council share the best ways brands can rebuild credibility and strengthen their image after public criticism.—
Rolling Stone Culture Council,
Rolling Stone,
9 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Credulity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/credulity. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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