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Credibility vs Credulity - What's the difference?

credibility | credulity |

As nouns the difference between credibility and credulity

is that credibility is reputation impacting one's ability to be believed while credulity is a willingness to believe in someone or something in the absence of reasonable proof; credulousness.

credibility

English

Noun

  • Reputation impacting one's ability to be believed.
  • After weeks of blowing smoke, her credibility with me was next to nil.
  • (legal) Believability of statements by a witness, as measured by whether the testimony is probable or improbable when judged by common experience.
  • Synonyms

    * (sense, reputation impacting one's ability to be believed) believability, personal capital

    Coordinate terms

    * cred

    credulity

    English

    Noun

  • A willingness to believe in someone or something in the absence of reasonable proof; credulousness.
  • * 1749 , , The history of Tom Jones , Book 6,
  • Do you think Mr. Allworthy hath more contempt for money than other men because he professes more? Such credulity would better become one of us weak women, than that wise sex which heaven hath formed for politicians. Indeed, brother, you would make a fine plenipo to negotiate with the French.
  • * 1912 , , The Lost World , ch. 9,
  • As Challenger spoke of his pterodactyl I glanced at Professor Summerlee, and for the first time I seemed to see some signs of a dawning credulity and repentance. There was no sneer upon his thin lips, but, on the contrary, a gray, drawn look of excitement and amazement. Challenger saw it, too, and reveled in the first taste of victory.

    Synonyms

    * gullibility

    Antonyms

    * incredulity

    References

    * * * * Oxford English Dictionary , 2nd ed., 1989.