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
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Recent Examples of gullibility
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
And in a world where time is money, conditions are ripe for a perfect storm of greed, deceit, and willful gullibility—all in the hope of getting ahead faster than the rest.
—Luis E. Romero, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Ignoring the problem of online gullibility felt irresponsible – even negligent.
—Sam Wineburg, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2025
As Nathan notes, the excuses players come up with often test a true fan’s gullibility.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2025
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
And in a world where time is money, conditions are ripe for a perfect storm of greed, deceit, and willful gullibility—all in the hope of getting ahead faster than the rest.
—Luis E. Romero, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Ignoring the problem of online gullibility felt irresponsible – even negligent.
—Sam Wineburg, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2025
As Nathan notes, the excuses players come up with often test a true fan’s gullibility.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gullibility
Noun
-
The TikTok tradeoff is dynamic scanning, selecting, and constructing in return for patience, credulity, and willingness to follow direction.—
Ryan Craig,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Bollen’s own professional background is in market research, and, being well versed in the ways in which popular credulity is leveraged, she is also equipped to cast skepticism upon research findings whose standards fall short.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Contrary to popular belief, reality television actually boasts some quality storytelling, offering endless entertainment to viewers who are interested in human nature, seeking escapism, or marveling at impressive displays of talent.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Feb. 2026
-
At the heart of his coalition-building is a belief that virulent partisanship is a messaging issue more than a political one.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Warm minimalism blends simplicity with warm neutrals and natural materials to feel more inviting.—
Erica Puisis,
The Spruce,
31 Jan. 2026
-
This year, that simplicity may see a resurgence.—
Heather Bien,
Martha Stewart,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Our strategy is aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, ESG principles, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and global reporting frameworks, ensuring consistency and credibility.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The group’s efforts — along with CGI’s cost savings and the lack of credibility of the industry’s No Animals Were Harmed safety designation — have meant that, increasingly, most high-profile films and TV shows have gone the digital route.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The simpleness of the look really allowed the Crocs to stand out and make an impression.—
Tara Larson,
Footwear News,
14 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gullibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gullibility. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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