easily believe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "easily believe" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing how someone can readily accept or trust something without much skepticism. Example: "Many people can easily believe in conspiracy theories if they resonate with their existing beliefs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

It is the sort of story you, the consumer, all too easily believe.

The Guardian - Opinion

If the photograph wasn't dated 1964, you could easily believe it was doctored.

The New York Times

No one would easily believe that I'd chosen William over him.

The New Yorker

The pharma giants could easily believe their way of doing things would always dominate.

MIT Technology Review

You could easily believe the smoking ban – the entire 00s – never happened.

The Guardian - Music

Scanning the centuries, you could easily believe that the Vatican had put more effort into suppressing music than supporting it.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

All too easily dismissed in Madrid, all too easily believed in Barcelona.

The Guardian - Sport

I don't know a single woman who easily believes her man could betray her.

The New York Times - Arts

The Kennedy clan might have easily believed that for them, almost anything was attainable.

The New York Times - Travel

Lies that play to our prejudices are more easily believed and we pass them on thoughtlessly, exacerbating the problem.

The Guardian

Yelling around in that way, yelling that it was a lot, going on a long time, turning up the volume, people who didn't know easily believed it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "easily believe" to describe situations where someone's prior knowledge or experiences make a certain conclusion seem natural or obvious.

Common error

Avoid using "easily believe" when describing reasonable or well-supported beliefs. The phrase can imply a lack of critical thinking, so reserve it for situations where the belief is questionable or unfounded.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "easily believe" functions as an adverb-verb construction. The adverb "easily" modifies the verb "believe", indicating the manner in which the action of believing is performed. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "easily believe" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to describe how readily someone accepts something as true. Ludwig AI analysis, along with numerous examples from diverse sources, confirms its wide usage across various contexts. While it can sometimes imply a lack of critical thinking, it also describes a natural acceptance of information depending on the context and individual. When using "easily believe", it's crucial to consider the potential for misinterpretation and whether a more neutral or skeptical term is more appropriate. Alternatives such as "readily accept" or "quickly trust" can offer subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

readily accept

Focuses on the acceptance aspect rather than the belief itself, implying a quick agreement.

quickly trust

Highlights the speed and lack of hesitation in placing trust.

take at face value

Implies accepting something without deeper investigation or skepticism.

blindly accept

Emphasizes the absence of questioning or scrutiny in adopting a belief.

be prone to believe

Indicates a tendency or inclination to accept certain beliefs.

naively assume

Suggests a lack of critical thinking or awareness when forming a belief.

be susceptible to

Highlights vulnerability to being convinced or swayed to believe something.

credulously embrace

Highlights a willingness to believe even with flimsy evidence; implies gullibility.

readily swallow

Uses a metaphor to suggest unquestioning acceptance of information.

fall for

An informal way of saying someone is deceived into believing something.

FAQs

How can I use "easily believe" in a sentence?

You can use "easily believe" to describe situations where someone readily accepts information, such as, "People "easily believe" what they read online without verifying the source".

What's a better alternative to "easily believe" if I want to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "readily accept", "quickly trust", or "credulously embrace". The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it always negative to say someone "easily believes" something?

Not necessarily. While "easily believe" can imply gullibility, it can also simply describe a situation where a belief is natural or logical given someone's background. The connotation depends on the context.

What is the difference between "easily believe" and "blindly accept"?

"Easily believe" suggests a lack of critical thinking, while "blindly accept" emphasizes an absence of any questioning or scrutiny. "Blindly accept" is typically more negative.