Basic Details
Word: Gullible
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Too ready to believe what people say, and so easily tricked.
Synonyms: naive, trusting, credulous
Antonyms: sceptical, suspicious, wary
How to Spell Gullible
Syllables: gul - li - ble
Tricky part: It has a double l and ends in ible, not able. Gullable is the most common mistake.
Watch out for: gullable, gulible, gullibel
Memory tip: Picture a seagull that believes anyone holding chips: start with gull, then add ible.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Only a gullible person would believe that the moon is made of cheese.
Example 2: The trickster sold fake gold coins to gullible tourists.
Example 3: Riya is not gullible; she checks every forwarded message before sharing it.
Fun Fact
Long ago, gull was also a verb meaning to trick someone, and a gull was a person who was easily fooled.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word: gullible
a) suspicious
b) naive
c) clever
d) cautious
Show answer
b) naive. A naive person trusts too easily, just like a gullible one; suspicious and cautious point the other way.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) flexible
b) visible
c) gullable
d) horrible
Show answer
c) gullable. Gullible takes the ible ending, the same one seen in flexible and visible.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
lbilegul
a) gullible
b) bullied
c) eligible
d) legible
Show answer
a) gullible. The letters include a g, a u and three l's, which only gullible uses.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A gullible person is most likely to ____.
a) believe a stranger who says he has won a lottery for them
b) check facts before believing them
c) ask lots of careful questions
d) refuse to trust anyone
Show answer
a) believe a stranger who says he has won a lottery for them
2. Which claim would fool only a gullible listener?
a) that water boils when heated
b) that cows give milk
c) that elephants can fly by flapping their ears
d) that the sun rises in the east
Show answer
c) that elephants can fly by flapping their ears
