Definition of credulitynext
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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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 Because these stories have to dramatize a search for normalcy, its leads tend to be awkward in ways that strain credulity. — Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026 Box Elder is all of that, multiplied to a scale that strains credulity. — Michael Posner, Forbes.com, 9 June 2026 Even if viewers didn’t know what direction Russia eventually took under Putin, however, the character’s powerful but coiled demeanor quickly makes apparent that such credulity has consequences. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026 Forgive the sarcasm, but this season broke my credulity meter months ago. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for credulity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for credulity
Noun
  • Beyond the mystery at the novel’s core, Candlish examines themes of #MeToo harassment, truth versus fiction in social media trends, boomerang kids, and the fine line between gullibility and trust.
    — The Know, Denver Post, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Members must accommodate themselves to its fictions, with varying mixtures of gullibility and cynicism; followers shown proof that the leader has lied may admire him all the more for his tactical cleverness.
    — David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The exhibition highlights how trade routes connected the Arabian Gulf, East Africa, India, China, and Southeast Asia through the exchange of spices, pearls, textiles, jewelry, and religious beliefs.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The verdict, Wright says, shattered his belief in both the judicial system and religion.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Her credulousness has actually served Fox as a legal defense, since a person has to know a statement was false or show reckless disregard for the truth in order to be held liable for defamation.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Satin finish, soft glow Much like the origins of the mochi skin concept, the mochi skin aesthetic is rooted in the Japanese approach to beauty, where simplicity and radiance take center stage.
    — Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
  • That process has been in place for over three decades, and Brazilians have become accustomed to its speed, simplicity, accuracy and routine.
    — Solly Boussidan, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The credibility of a company’s European commitments depends on the operating arrangement and protections behind them.
    — Margot Edelman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Conceding that earns you the credibility to defend the steps that matter.
    — Brian Jenney, IEEE Spectrum, 23 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Credulity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/credulity. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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