predisposed to believe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "predisposed to believe" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing someone's inclination or tendency to accept certain ideas or beliefs without skepticism. Example: "She was predisposed to believe in the power of positive thinking due to her upbringing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

And they work because we might be predisposed to believe them already.

The New York Times

What you have in an abductee, Clancy suspects, is someone who is predisposed to believe.

The New York Times - Magazine

They offered cover for top Bush administration officials who were predisposed to believe Iraq represented the real terror threat.

The New York Times - Books

When people arrived in the surgery complaining of pain or insomnia "we are predisposed to believe what people tell us", he said.

The Guardian

Thus, I was predisposed to believe that Amazon and e-books would drive small stores and paper books to the grave.

The New York Times

In other words, in Smith's account of the research, we are — for better or more often for worse — predisposed to believe that racial or ethnic identity is immutable.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

On the one hand, I'm predisposed to believing that executives are indeed clueless.

The New York Times

She told the judge that she was predisposed to believing top financial executives "are not always so straightforward and honorable".

Forbes

It also offers those who are already predisposed to believing terrible things about the accused more license to hate.

Vice

Like Steve, many of the people I spoke to seemed generally predisposed to believing conspiracy theories, or at least questioning the official version of events.

Vice

Like Taylor and Winslow, Shelden was predisposed to trust Price.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "predisposed to believe" to accurately convey a pre-existing inclination or tendency towards accepting specific ideas or beliefs without needing further convincing. It suggests a prior bias or mindset.

Common error

Avoid using "predisposed to believe" when simply describing a temporary or situational belief. The phrase implies a more permanent and ingrained tendency, so consider alternatives like "inclined to think" or "tended to assume" for transient situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "predisposed to believe" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a preposition and an infinitive verb. It modifies a noun (often a person or group) to indicate a pre-existing inclination or tendency towards accepting certain beliefs. Ludwig examples show how this phrase is used to describe inherent biases.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

22%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Huffington Post

9%

Forbes

5%

The New Yorker

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "predisposed to believe" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate a pre-existing inclination towards certain beliefs. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's most frequently found in News & Media and Science contexts, suggesting its use in analytical and descriptive writing. When using this phrase, it's important to consider whether a more temporary or situational term might be more appropriate, avoiding overgeneralization. Alternatives such as "inclined to believe" or "tending to believe" can offer subtle differences in emphasis. Overall, "predisposed to believe" serves to explain potential biases and influences on belief formation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inclined to believe

Suggests a leaning or tendency toward belief, similar to being predisposed but perhaps less ingrained.

tending to believe

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the belief inclination, rather than a pre-existing condition.

disposed to believe

A more formal synonym, highlighting a natural inclination.

susceptible to believing

Indicates vulnerability to accepting something as true, often implying a lack of critical evaluation.

prone to believing

Suggests a higher likelihood of believing, possibly due to naivety or past experiences.

likely to believe

A straightforward expression of probability, without necessarily implying an inherent predisposition.

open to believing

Indicates a willingness to accept something as true, suggesting a lack of strong opposing beliefs.

easily convinced

Focuses on the ease with which someone can be persuaded, rather than an inherent predisposition.

credulous

Describes someone who readily believes things without sufficient evidence, often implying a negative connotation.

gullible

Similar to "credulous", but often carries a stronger implication of being easily deceived.

FAQs

How can I use "predisposed to believe" in a sentence?

You can use "predisposed to believe" to describe someone's tendency to accept certain ideas readily. For example: "Because of her upbringing, she was "predisposed to believe" in the importance of community service."

What's the difference between "inclined to believe" and "predisposed to believe"?

"Inclined to believe" suggests a current leaning or tendency, while ""predisposed to believe"" implies a pre-existing or inherent tendency. The latter suggests a more deeply rooted disposition.

Are there situations where "predisposed to believe" might not be the best choice?

Yes, if you're describing a temporary or situational belief, phrases like "inclined to think" or "tended to assume" might be more appropriate, as they don't imply a deeply ingrained predisposition.

What are some alternatives to "predisposed to believe" that maintain a similar meaning?

Alternatives include "inclined to believe", "tending to believe", or "disposed to believe", which all suggest a natural inclination towards accepting something as true.