Gullibly: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes

Meaning 1：with uncritical trust (gullibly)

gullibly 🔊

/ˈɡʌl.ɪ.bli/

adv.

In a way that shows you believe things too easily, often without checking if they are true.

with uncritical trust 🔊

➕

/wɪð ʌnˈkrɪt.ɪ.kəl trʌst/

adv.

Behaving in a manner that shows one is too ready to believe things without questioning or verifying their truth.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Derived from 'gull' (archaic for deceive) + -ible (able to be) + -ly (adverb suffix), meaning 'in a deceivable manner'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'gull' as a bird easily tricked by bait, plus '-ibly' for manner: gullibly means acting like a gullible gull.

📖 Example

He gullibly believed the online advertisement that promised he could earn a million dollars in a week by just clicking a button. 🔊 He gullibly believed the online advertisement that promised he could earn a million dollars in a week by just clicking a button.

🔗 Collocations

accept gullibly – to take in information without questioning its validity

listen gullibly – to hear and believe something without critical evaluation

act gullibly – to behave in a naive or overly trusting manner

🔄 Synonyms

credulously (adv.) – in a manner showing too much readiness to believe, often without evidence

naively (adv.) – in a simple and trusting way, lacking experience or skepticism

trustingly (adv.) – with complete confidence in others' honesty, without doubt

🚫 Antonyms

skeptically (adv.) – in a doubting or questioning manner, requiring proof

cynically (adv.) – in a distrustful and pessimistic way, assuming bad motives

disbelievingly (adv.) – in a manner showing lack of belief or acceptance

🌱 Derivatives

gullible (adj.) – easily persuaded to believe something; credulous

gullibility (n.) – the quality of being gullible; naivety in belief

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'gullible' originated in the early 19th century from 'gull', an obsolete term for a fool or dupe, reflecting historical observations of human credulity in social contexts.