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
-
Grow by leaving awesome LinkedIn comments Identify your strongest beliefs Your commenting strategy needs a theme.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
Drilled into me back then was the belief that putting out big bestsellers, no matter the style or substance, would always be a net positive.—
Maris Kreizman
July 1,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2025
Noun
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This is the result of naivete: Who would want to hurt little old us?—
Stephen Marche,
The Atlantic,
1 July 2025
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The secret is that Spike’s know-nothing naivete encourages us to see the world through the eyes of someone who’s new to every part of it.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
18 June 2025
Noun
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Young consumers receptive to silk lingerie and sleepwear still demand machine-wash convenience and price sensitivity, while design styles must balance traditional aesthetics with modern tastes—blending simplicity, comfort and a sense of technology.—
SJ Studio,
Sourcing Journal,
24 June 2025
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In fact, many found AI content to be more personable and enjoyable, possibly due to its simplicity and accessibility.—
Katie Jewett,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
Noun
-
The bombing campaign against Iraq was only politically possible because Cohen had the credibility to assure his fellow Republicans and the nation that the military wasn’t acting to protect the president’s political interests.—
Time,
Time,
1 July 2025
-
Without this trust, even the best AI solution can undermine the company’s credibility.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Credulity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/credulity. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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