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Credulous: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Credulous adjective. Too ready to believe what you are told.
How to say it
KRED-yoo-lus/ˈkrɛdjʊləs/ · American /ˈkrɛdʒələs/
3 syllables, stressed on the first (KRED).
Credulous in a sentence
Only the most credulous buyer would pay for a 'genuine' Rolex in a car park.
Scam emails are written for credulous readers who won't check the sender.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- gullible
- naive
- trusting
- unsuspecting
Opposite:
- sceptical
- suspicious
- wary
Usage note
Credulous describes a person who believes too easily; credible describes a story or witness worth believing. A credulous jury might accept a story that isn't credible.
Where credulous comes from
From Latin credulus, from credere, to believe.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Scam emails are written for _____ readers who won't check the sender.
- credulous
- torturous
- complaisant
Show the answer
credulous: Scam emails are written for credulous readers who won't check the sender.