Credulity & Naivety Vocabulary

having excessive tendency to believe things

“Credulous investors fell for the Ponzi scheme.”

Origin: Latin credulus `easily believing` (from credere `to believe, trust`)

easily persuaded to believe something

“Only the gullible believed his outlandish stories.”

Origin: From gull `to trick, deceive` (possibly from Middle English gull `unfledged bird`)

showing lack of experience or sophistication

“It would be naive to think they acted without self-interest.”

Origin: French naïf `natural, simple` (from Latin nativus `native, natural`, from natus `born`)

innocent and unsuspecting; candid

“His ingenuous questions revealed his inexperience.”

Origin: Latin ingenuus `native, freeborn, frank` (in- `in` + genus `birth, race`)

without guile or deception; simple

“Her artless sincerity was refreshing in the world of politics.”

Origin: English art `skill, craft` + -less `without` (from Latin ars `skill`)

not aware of the full facts; unintentional

“They were unwitting accomplices to the fraud.”

Origin: Old English un- `not` + witan `to know`

believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest

“His cynical view of politics left no room for idealism.”

Origin: Greek kynikos `dog-like` (from kyon `dog`, referring to Cynic philosophers who lived simply)

tired or lacking enthusiasm from excessive experience

“The jaded veteran had seen too many false promises.”

Origin: From jade `worn-out horse` (possibly from Old Norse jalda `mare`)

experienced and sophisticated

“Her worldly perspective came from years of travel.”

Origin: Old English woruldlic `earthly, secular` (from woruld `world, human existence`)

having or showing good judgment

“The discerning critic saw through the hype.”

Origin: Latin discernere `to separate, distinguish` (dis- `apart` + cernere `to separate, sift`)