gullibly
With naive trust
In a gullible manner—readily believing what others say without skepticism or critical thought.
She gullibly accepted his excuse about working late.
He gullibly forwarded the email promising a cash prize.
The word often carries a note of criticism or pity for the person being deceived.
With excessive trustfulness
- unquestioninglyWithout seeking justification
- trustinglyWith naive belief
- unsuspectinglyWithout anticipating trouble
- uncriticallyWithout analysis or judgment
unreservedly · confidingly · faithfully · openly · naively · innocently · hopefully · optimistically
Without intent to harm
- ingenuouslyWith innocent openness
- unworldlyLacking practical awareness
- simple-mindedlyWithout nuanced thought
- childlikeHaving youthful innocence
guileless · artlessly · unsophisticatedly · greenly · cluelessly · wide-eyed · starry-eyed · impressionably
credulously
With excessive trustfulness
- unquestioninglyWithout seeking justification
- trustinglyWith naive belief
- unsuspectinglyWithout anticipating trouble
uncritically · unreservedly · confidingly · faithfully · openly · naively · innocently · hopefully · optimistically · readily
innocently
Without intent to harm
- ingenuouslyWith innocent openness
- unworldlyLacking practical awareness
- simple-mindedlyWithout nuanced thought
childlike · guileless · artlessly · unsophisticatedly · greenly · cluelessly · wide-eyed · starry-eyed · impressionably · unguardedly
duped
Deceived into believing
- hoodwinkedTricked into believing falsely
- swindledDeceived for gain
- bamboozledThoroughly deceived or confused
conned · tricked · fooled · scammed · cheated · defrauded · misled · beguiled · hoaxed · suckered
manipulated
Controlled through cunning
- usedAlready been employed
- victimizedTreated cruelly or unfairly
- abusedTreated harmfully or wrongly
betrayed · exploited · targeted · entrapped · ensnared · lured · baited · trapped · milked · fleeced
gulliblyskeptically
With doubt or distrust
suspiciously · incredulously · mistrustfully · distrustfully · cynically