The Opposite(Antonym) of “gullible”
The antonym of gullible is skeptical, distrustful, and cynical. These antonyms describe a lack of trust or belief in something or someone.
Explore all Antonyms of “gullible”
Definitions and Examples of skeptical, distrustful, cynical
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
Not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations about something.
Example
She was skeptical about the new product's claims and decided to do some research before buying it.
Feeling or showing a lack of trust or confidence in someone or something.
Example
After being lied to several times, he became distrustful of his friend's promises.
Distrustful of human nature and motives; believing that people are motivated by self-interest.
Example
He had a cynical view of politics and believed that politicians only cared about their own interests.
Key Differences: skeptical vs distrustful vs cynical
- 1Skeptical implies having doubts or reservations about something, while gullible implies being easily fooled or deceived.
- 2Distrustful implies a lack of trust or confidence in someone or something, while gullible implies a willingness to believe anything.
- 3Cynical implies a distrustful view of human nature and motives, while gullible implies a naive or innocent view of the world.
Effective Usage of skeptical, distrustful, cynical
- 1Critical Thinking: Use skeptical to question claims and ideas.
- 2Healthy Relationships: Avoid being distrustful but also avoid being too gullible in relationships.
- 3Realistic View: Use cynical to describe a realistic view of the world.
Remember this!
The antonyms have distinct nuances: Skeptical implies doubt, distrustful implies a lack of trust, and cynical implies a distrustful view of human nature. Use these words to practice critical thinking, maintain healthy relationships, and describe a realistic view of the world.
