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
-
Rowling has courted controversy since 2020 for regularly sharing beliefs on social media that many believe are transphobic.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
22 June 2025
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Whether or not influencers should share political beliefs online has been a contentious debate for years, but amid President Donald Trump’s second administration, crackdowns on health care, college protesters, and immigrants, this discourse has been pushed to the forefront.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
21 June 2025
Noun
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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
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Is there intimidation, naivete, fear of being alone?—
EW Staff,
EW.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Each brand employs a strikingly similar aesthetic vocabulary: muted color palettes dominated by whites, blacks, and earth tones; sans-serif typography that suggests clinical precision; and packaging that prioritizes geometric simplicity over ornamental flourish.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
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
-
In journalism, visibility and virality are not the standard—credibility is.—
Ime Ekpo,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
-
Dave Williams, the former Colorado GOP chairman who destroyed what remained of the state party’s credibility, recently got a job with the Commerce Department.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Credulity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/credulity. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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