strain credulity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "strain credulity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that is difficult to believe or seems implausible. Example: "The story he told about winning the lottery twice in one week strains credulity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"It does strain credulity".

The New York Times - Arts

For Markram's critics, such statements strain credulity.

The Guardian

The scene would strain credulity, and our research shows why".

The New York Times

Their concerns evoke sympathy but also strain credulity.

The New York Times - Magazine

Her scenes with the pitch-perfect Ms. Landry generate real emotion, even when they strain credulity.

The New York Times

Since then, the scandal hasn't died, mostly because Coulson's evasions strain credulity.

The New Yorker

The decision is pragmatic, conservative, and so minimalist as to strain credulity.

The Guardian - Opinion

The "war on women" rhetoric was starting to strain credulity a little.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

That strains credulity.

The New York Times

It strains credulity.

The Guardian - Opinion

For Bos­trom, this strains credulity.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "strain credulity", consider the audience and the context. If the statement is particularly sensitive, provide supporting evidence or reasoning to mitigate potential disbelief.

Common error

Avoid using "strain credulity" lightly for minor exaggerations. Reserve it for situations where the assertion genuinely challenges reasonable belief, not for everyday overstatements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strain credulity" functions as a verb phrase indicating that something is difficult to believe or challenges one's ability to accept it as true. It implies a high degree of improbability or implausibility. Ludwig provides numerous examples of this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Books

19%

Arts

9%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "strain credulity" is a commonly used and grammatically correct expression that indicates something is difficult to believe. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears frequently in News & Media, Arts, and Books. When using this phrase, consider the audience and context and avoid overusing it for minor exaggerations. Alternatives such as "test belief" or "defy belief" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beggar belief

An idiomatic expression indicating something is extremely hard to believe.

defy belief

Suggests something is so improbable it's hard to accept.

push the limits of believability

Emphasizes exceeding what can reasonably be believed.

stretch belief

Implies that something is pushing the boundaries of what is believable.

push the envelope of plausibility

Similar to pushing limits of believability, but emphasizes plausibility.

test belief

Focuses on the challenge to one's convictions, rather than the implausibility itself.

stretch the bounds of possibility

Shifts focus from belief to the feasibility of something.

challenge belief

Highlights the questioning aspect of something that's hard to believe.

tax belief

Implies a burden on one's ability to believe something.

defy comprehension

Focuses on the difficulty to understand rather than believe something.

FAQs

How can I use "strain credulity" in a sentence?

You can use "strain credulity" when you want to express that something is difficult to believe or seems implausible. For example, "His excuse for being late started to "strain credulity" after the third time".

What can I say instead of "strain credulity"?

You can use alternatives like "test belief", "defy belief", or "beggar belief" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "strain credulity"?

It's appropriate to use "strain credulity" when you want to suggest that a statement, event, or explanation is so unlikely or improbable that it is difficult for people to believe.

What's the difference between "strain credulity" and "test one's patience"?

"Strain credulity" refers to challenging belief due to implausibility, while "test one's patience" refers to something that is annoying or frustrating. They address different aspects of a situation.