gullibility

noun

Definition of gullibilitynext
as in naïveté
readiness to believe the claims of others without sufficient evidence teased her about her well-known gullibility by repeatedly offering to sell her the Brooklyn Bridge

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 gullibility 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 Mason highlights – with levity and humor – how erroneous ideas, gullibility, and blinders can lead even people who should know better down rabbit holes. — Monitor Reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 23 July 2026 With no way to secure this crucial boundary, Microsoft and its peers are left to erect complicated and ad hoc guardrails designed to rein in the consequences of this incurable gullibility. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 16 June 2026 Their bond — both are outsiders who suffered abuse as children — is one of the few emotional soft spots in the otherwise fast-moving series about America’s rotten power structure, manipulative media and the gullibility of the public. — Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026 These forces—economic uncertainty, political division, and toxic algorithms—work in a vicious cycle to try and tell us that empathy is weakness… that kindness is gullibility… that sincerity is for suckers. — Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026 The Enlightenment faith in reason, science, and free speech, already weakened by the First World War, had been devastated by an unprecedented bureaucracy of mass death, sustained by technology, systematic deceit, widespread gullibility, and eager acquiescence. — Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025 That’s the gullibility these movies tap into — our desire, underneath it all, to believe the impossible. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gullibility
  1. credulity
  2. belief
  3. credulousness
  4. simplicity
  5. credibility
  6. simpleness
Noun
  • What’s worse is the scene that follows, revealing the clean-up of multiple bodies and an elaborate rewriting of the narrative that strains credulity to put it mildly, not to mention shortchanging the Mexican characters.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The earlier series has increasingly strained credulity by having its romance plots hinge on inequalities of gender and class, but seldom of race.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of credulity
Noun
  • Under relatively stable conditions, those beliefs may remain quiet.
    — Shahrzad Jalali, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The two were discussing that deal and Ellison’s belief in the importance of the movie theater business to the industry.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of belief
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
Definition of credulousness
Noun
  • Such a complicated form belies the simplicity of much of the language in it.
    — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
  • This season’s star was the Asa Tote, a large flat architectural shape with asymmetric shoulder straps that shined in its simplicity thanks to the contrasting textures, like in the charming canvas and leather version.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of simplicity
Noun
  • What readers are saying The comments reflect skepticism and criticism towards Israel and its actions, with some commenters questioning the credibility of Israeli intelligence and the motives behind certain events.
    — Matthew Hay Brown, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Levi’s — under Gass as well as her predecessor Chip Bergh — has built up a certain credibility and is getting the benefit of the doubt.
    — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of credibility
Noun
  • The simpleness of the look really allowed the Crocs to stand out and make an impression.
    — Tara Larson, Footwear News, 14 Nov. 2025
Definition of simpleness

Browse Nearby Words

gullets
gullibility
gullible
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Cite this Entry

“Gullibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gullibility. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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