It strained credulity to believe that a nuclear war would not lead to the destruction of the planet.credulitycre‧du‧li‧ty /krɪˈdjuːləti $ -ˈduː-/ noun [uncountable] formal 
Advertisers were accused of exploiting consumers’ credulity.strain/stretch credulity (=seem very difficult to believe) It strained credulity to believe that a nuclear war would not lead to the destruction of the planet.
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- And, quite frankly, it strains the credulity of those who are asked to believe that it exists.
- But it would be straining credulity too far to expect that everything will be absorbed.
- Faith and credulity, vision and delusion can only be distinguished provided that in case-studies the issue of ontology is kept alive.
- His experience there may beg credulity.
- It may stretch credulity to the point that signs of real abuse are overlooked.
- It strains credulity, I know, but there were nights in those years when no man was bad-looking.
- It was once again proved that the credulity of trainees knew no bounds.
- Our interplanetary visitors might well be amazed at such foolish credulity.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
(=seem very difficult to believe) It strained credulity to believe that a nuclear war would not lead to the destruction of the planet.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB It strained credulity to believe that a nuclear war would not lead to the destruction of the planet.· If anything, Letterman thinks, these women have a compulsion to reach a higher plane of conversation that strains credulity.· It strains credulity, I know, but there were nights in those years when no man was bad-looking.· On this page we add a post-script to the Century by straining the readers' credulity still further! 1.· And, quite frankly, it strains the credulity of those who are asked to believe that it exists.· To be asked to see myself as one in solidarity with first-century women strains my credulity.· It strains credulity to think they could beat San Francisco and Dallas on the road.
· It may stretch credulity to the point that signs of real abuse are overlooked.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
willingness or ability to believe that something is true: - I would be stretching the patience of my audience if I commented on them.
- It may stretch credulity to the point that signs of real abuse are overlooked.
Advertisers were accused of exploiting consumers’ credulity.strain/stretch credulity (=seem very difficult to believe) It strained credulity to believe that a nuclear war would not lead to the destruction of the planet.