Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Easily tricked or deceived because of being too trusting: A "gullible" person is one who is too willing to believe what others say and is therefore easily fooled or cheated.
   • Naive and easily misled: This describes someone who lacks experience or judgment, making them susceptible to deception.

Usage

The word "gullible" is used to describe a person's character or a specific instance of being easily deceived. It often carries a slightly negative or pitying connotation, suggesting a lack of critical thinking or worldliness. - It is typically used as an adjective before a noun (e.g., a gullible person) or after a linking verb (e.g., He is very gullible). - It describes a permanent or habitual trait, not a temporary state.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The scam artist targeted gullible elderly people.
  • She was so gullible that she believed the email from the fake prince.
  • Don't be so gullible; if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Advanced Usage

• "Gullible to a fault": Extremely and problematically gullible.
  • His kindness made him gullible to a fault, often being taken advantage of by so-called friends.
• Used in formal and informal contexts to critique a lack of skepticism.
  • The study examined the psychological profile of gullible consumers.

Variants and Related Words

• Gullibility (noun): The quality of being gullible.
  • His gullibility led to significant financial losses.
• Gullibly (adverb): In a gullible manner.
  • He gullibly accepted the stranger's implausible story.

Synonyms

• Credulous: Willing to believe or trust too readily, often without proper evidence. (More formal synonym)
• Naive: Lacking experience, wisdom, or judgment; often implies innocence.
• Trusting: Inclined to trust others (can be positive or negative depending on context).
• Unsuspecting: Not aware of any danger or deception.

Antonyms

• Skeptical / Sceptical: Not easily convinced; having doubts.
• Cynical: Believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful.
• Shrewd: Having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute.
• Discerning: Showing good judgment, especially in matters of taste or quality.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• "Sell a bridge to someone": To successfully deceive a very gullible person. (Based on the historical "Brooklyn Bridge scam").
  • He's so gullible, you could probably sell him a bridge.
• "Born yesterday": (Not) naive or inexperienced. Often used in the negative: "I wasn't born yesterday."
  • Do you think I was born yesterday? I'm not that gullible.

Adjective

1. easily tricked because of being too trusting
   • gullible tourists taken in by the shell game
2. naive and easily deceived or tricked
   • at that early age she had been gullible and in love