gullible
Quick to believe
Gullible describes someone easily deceived or quick to believe things without sufficient evidence.
A gullible person falls for scams, accepts implausible stories, and takes things at face value: He was gullible enough to wire money to a stranger.
The word carries a note of criticism—being gullible suggests naivety or poor judgment rather than innocent trust.
Innocently unsuspecting
- trustingInclined to believe others
- credulousProne to blind trust
- unsuspectingNot anticipating danger
- unwaryWithout due caution
impressionable · overtrusting · unquestioning · confiding · green · inexperienced · unseasoned · suggestible
Free from deceit
- artlessLacking deceit or cunning
- ingenuousInnocently frank and trusting
- simpleFree of complexity
- childlikeHaving youthful innocence
unsophisticated · unworldly · sincere · open · transparent · unguarded · unpretentious · wholesome
One harmed by another
- targetObject of pursuit
- markVisible impression or sign
- preyAnimal being hunted
- suckerEasily fooled person
dupe · pigeon · stooge · pawn · chump · sap · mug · sitting duck
naive
Innocently unsuspecting
- trustingInclined to believe others
- credulousProne to blind trust
- unsuspectingNot anticipating danger
unwary · impressionable · overtrusting · unquestioning · confiding · green · inexperienced · unseasoned · suggestible · persuadable
guileless
Free from deceit
childlike · unsophisticated · unworldly · sincere · open · transparent · unguarded · unpretentious · wholesome · pure-hearted
victim
One harmed by another
sucker · dupe · pigeon · stooge · pawn · chump · sap · mug · sitting duck · easy target
duped
Deceived into believing
- fooledLed to believe falsely
- hoodwinkedTricked into believing falsely
- swindledDeceived for gain
bamboozled · misled · conned · tricked · taken in · cheated · defrauded · fleeced · scammed · cozened
simpleminded
Lacking mental acuity
daft · foolish · silly · slow · dense · thick · obtuse · unthinking · unwise · rash
- trusting traitsnaive, trustful, credulous, confiding, guileless
- naivetenaivety, naive, innocence, innocent, credulity
- innocenceinnocent, innocence, purity, pure, blameless
- certaintycertain, sure, uncertain, unsure, definite
- foolishfoolish, stupid, dumb, brainless, witless
- kind traitskind, caring, compassionate, nurturing, tender
gullibleskeptical
Inclined to question claims
suspicious · mistrustful · cynical · distrustful · untrusting
gullibleshrewd
Practically clever, perceptive
astute · canny · savvy · streetwise · street-smart