What is the basic meaning of Credulous , in which context it will be the best to use instead of "willing to believe" ? How formally we can use "Credulous" ?
Tell me more
×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for
linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
|
|
|
Credulous isn't a terribly common word, but it's not especially formal and can potentially be used in any register. The most important thing is its connotation: it means not just someone who is willing to believe, but implies a negative opinion of the person's intelligence and judgement. In this sense it's a near synonym of gullible. |
|||
|
|
|
"Willing to believe" is a much more neutral-sounding phrase than "credulous", which is more along the lines of "willing to believe anything (no matter how far-fetched or improbable)". |
|||
|
|
