Words / C2

KRED-y-uh-l-uh-s/ˈkredjələs/

Credulous means too ready to believe: a credulous reader, credulous of rumours. Gullible is the everyday cousin. Credible means believable (of a story); credulous is of the person. Incredulous means unwilling to believe — almost the opposite.

Meaning

Too ready to believe what you are told.

Examples

• “A credulous reader will accept every headline.”
• “Only a credulous buyer would skip the small print.”
• “The hoax spread among credulous groups online.”

Good to know

a credulous person. Story: credible. Opposite flavour: incredulous. Everyday: gullible.

Near in meaning

gullible

New