credulous
UK: ˈkredʒələs | US: ˈkredʒələs
adj. too ready to believe things, often without proper evidence
adj. gullible or easily deceived
The word "credulous" stems from the Latin root credulus (believing, trusting), derived from credere (to believe). The morpheme cred- (believe) appears in many English words like "credit," "incredible," and "creed." The suffix -ous (full of) turns the root into an adjective, implying "full of belief." Over time, "credulous" acquired a slightly negative connotation, suggesting excessive or naive trust.
The scam targeted credulous elderly people who trusted the caller’s false promises.
She was too credulous to question the outrageous claim.
Credulous investors lost money in the fraudulent scheme.
His credulous nature made him an easy target for manipulation.
The cult preyed on credulous followers desperate for answers.