credulously

Credulously is an adverb describing the manner in which someone believes something with little or no evidence, often implying naivety or gullibility. It is derived from the adjective credulous, meaning easily convinced, which in turn comes from Latin credulus “trusting” through the English form credulous. The adverb is formed by adding the suffix -ly to credulous.

Usage of credulously tends to focus on how a claim or statement is accepted rather than on the speaker’s general character. It commonly appears in narrative, journalism, and analysis when noting that a person or audience accepted information without sufficient scrutiny. While it can carry a critical tone, it is not inherently pejorative; the connotation depends on context and intent. For example, a reporter might describe a crowd as listening credulously to a spokesperson, or a critic might caution that readers should not accept sensational claims credulously.

In meaning, credulously is closely related to but distinct from related terms. Credulous is the corresponding adjective describing a person who is prone to belief, credulity is the noun for the tendency to believe too readily, and gullible is a more colloquial synonym emphasizing susceptibility to deception. Used carefully, credulously helps specify the manner of belief without labeling the person outright.