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GRE vocabulary

credulity

nounHigh-frequency wordMore C words

a tendency to believe too readily; readiness to accept something as true without sufficient evidence

Word origin: From Latin credere, to believe.

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In a sentence

Credulity in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing credulity in a sentence.

The scammer preyed on the credulity of elderly victims who trusted his official-looking documents.

The scheme preyed on the credulity of investors who never questioned returns that were obviously too good to be true.

Synonyms
gullibilitynaivetycredulousnesssimplicity
Antonyms
skepticismwarinessdiscernmentcynicism

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Verbal · Text Completion

The historian argued that the empire's collapse was not blank but the predictable outcome of decades of fiscal mismanagement that contemporaries had simply refused to acknowledge.

Select the word that best completes the sentence.

Usage & nuance

Using “credulity” well

Credulity is the noun for an excessive readiness to believe, distinct from healthy openness. Do not confuse it with credibility, which is the quality of being believable, not of believing too easily.

Common questions

Questions about “credulity”

Credulity (noun) means a tendency to believe too readily; readiness to accept something as true without sufficient evidence
Here is credulity used in an example sentence: "The scammer preyed on the credulity of elderly victims who trusted his official-looking documents." Another example: "The scheme preyed on the credulity of investors who never questioned returns that were obviously too good to be true."
Common synonyms for credulity include gullibility, naivety, credulousness, simplicity.
Antonyms of credulity include skepticism, wariness, discernment, cynicism.
Clusters with gullibility, naivety, credulousness, and simplicity in Sentence Equivalence. Antonyms skepticism, wariness, discernment, and cynicism describe a guarded mindset.
Yes. Credulity is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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