gullible

Or gul·la·ble

[guhl-uh-buhl]

adjective

1. easily deceived or cheated.

   Synonyms: green, simple, innocent, naive, trusting, credulous

gullible

/ ˈɡʌləbəl /

adjective

1. easily taken in or tricked

Other Word Forms

• gullibility noun
• gullibly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of gullible¹

First recorded in 1815–25; gull ² + -ible

Example Sentences

This week, an article appeared there under the gullible headline “Republicans run a risky strategy for holding the House that rests on redrawn maps,” which for some reason required three bylines.

From Salon

But fear not, gullible Americans, Kennedy has promised to pinpoint a cause for the complex condition by September!

From Los Angeles Times

Ms Slinn added: "You just feel a bit stupid, don't you? You think 'how gullible can you be to give £5,000 to people you don't even know who they are?'."

From BBC

To not see this for what it is can be attributed to being naïve and gullible, to self-deception by outright denial, or to being complicit.

From Salon

It wasn't true, but "ethics in journalism" was credible-sounding enough to trick gullible journalists into writing stories that cast Gamergate in a more sympathetic light than the misogynist witch hunt deserved.

From Salon

Related Words

• foolish 
• unsophisticated 
• unsuspecting 
• wide-eyed