different between credulous vs unsuspicious

English

Etymology

Originated in 1576, borrowed from Latin cr?dulus (“that easily believes a thing, credulous”), from cr?d? (“to believe”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k??d??l?s/, /k??dj?l?s/

Adjective

credulous (comparative more credulous, superlative most credulous)

1. Excessively ready to believe things; gullible.
   • 1934 George Orwell, Burmese Days:

     "The doctor was a small, black, plump man with fuzzy hair and round, credulous eyes."

2. (obsolete) Believed too readily.

Synonyms

• naive, unworldly
• See also: Thesaurus:gullible

Antonyms

• incredulous
• noncredulous

Derived terms

• credulously
• credulousness

Related terms

Translations

References

• credulous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913. (etymology)

English

Etymology

From un- +? suspicious.

Adjective

unsuspicious (comparative more unsuspicious, superlative most unsuspicious)

1. Not suspicious; not suspecting, unaware (of something).
   • 1671, John Milton, Samson Agonistes, lines 1630-1635,^[1]

     […] he his guide requested

     (For so from such as nearer stood we heard),

     As over-tired, to let him lean awhile

     With both his arms on those two massy pillars,

     That to the arched roof gave main support.

     He unsuspicious led him; […]

   • 1748, Samuel Richardson, Clarissa, Volume I, Letter 34,^[2]

     Unsuspicious of her danger, the lamb’s throat will hardly shun thy knife!—O be not thou the butcher of my lambkin!

   • 1815, Jane Austen, Emma, Chapter ,^[3]

     For a moment or two nothing was said, and she was unsuspicious of having excited any particular interest, till she found her arm drawn within his, and pressed against his heart […]

   • 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, Introductory,^[4]

     Whenever such a mischance occurred—when a waggon-load of valuable merchandise had been smuggled ashore, at noonday, perhaps, and directly beneath their unsuspicious noses—nothing could exceed the vigilance and alacrity with which they proceeded to lock, and double-lock, and secure with tape and sealing-wax, all the avenues of the delinquent vessel.

   • 1868, Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, Volume I, Chapter 9,^[5]

     For, innocent and unsuspicious as she was, she could not help understanding the gossip of her friends.

2. Not arousing suspicion.
   • 1995, Robin Finn, “Horse Show; Equestrians Facing Competition and Lingering Scandal,” The New York Times, 30 October, 1995,^[6]

     The skeletons in this sport’s hitherto unsuspicious closet belong to upward of a dozen top-notch show jumpers, all insured for $50,000 to $250,000, all killed by a hitman-for-hire in an insurance-fraud scheme perpetrated by some of the most sterling names in the business.

   • 2004, A. Heidenreich and V. Ravery, “Preoperative imaging in renal cell cancer,” Abstract, in World Journal of Urology, 22(5), November 2004,^[7]

     The involvement of the adrenal gland can be accurately predicted by CT scans or MRI, allowing an adrenal sparing approach in the case of unsuspicious findings.

   • 2014, Simon Jenkins, “This Grand Inquisition won’t find ‘the truth’ of child sex abuse,” The Guardian, 8 July, 2014,^[8]

     One of May’s inquiries is a “review of reviews”, occasioned by the loss of the files. This was investigated by the Home Office a year ago and found to be unsuspicious.

Derived terms

• unsuspiciously
• unsuspiciousness

Translations