Credulity

Noun

Definition: a tendency to believe things too easily or without sufficient evidence

Synonyms: Gullibility, Naivety, Trustfulness

Antonyms: Skepticism, Disbelief

Examples:
  • He had a high level of credulity and often fell for scams.
  • Their credulity resulted in them being easily manipulated by false promises.
Mnemonics:
  • "Credulity" sounds similar to "credulous," which means having a tendency to believe things too easily.

Etymology:

Origin:

The word "credulity" comes from the Latin word "credulus," meaning "easily believes," which is derived from the Latin word "credere," meaning "to believe."

Historical Usage:

The term "credulity" has been used in English since the late 16th century to describe a disposition towards excessive belief or trust without appropriate evidence.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"Take advantage of someone's credulity."

Explanation:

This phrase refers to exploiting someone's tendency to believe things too easily for personal gain or manipulation.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Confusing credulity with intelligence or naivety.

Explanation:

Credulity refers to a predisposition to believe things too easily, regardless of intelligence. People with high intelligence can still exhibit credulity if they are prone to accepting unsupported claims. Naivety, on the other hand, refers to a lack of awareness or experience, which can make someone more susceptible to being credulous but is not the same concept.

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