Credible vs Credulous

credible

believable

credulous

gullible/too trusting

How to tell them apart

crediBLE = aBLE to be believed (believABLE claim). credULOUS = a person too fULl of trust, like gULlible. -ible = the claim is believable; -ulous = the person is gullible.

Test yourself

Fill in the blank: “Only one of these words means believable. That word is ______.”

Choose: credible or credulous

Show answer

Answer: credible

Credible means believable, which matches believable. Credulous means gullible/too trusting, so it is the wrong choice here.

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