What's the difference between these? She gets very swayed by others. She gets easily swayed by others. She easily buys others. She's gullible. (2024)

• English (US)

@osualina3713

Gullible is a formal word which describes someone who is easily convinced by others despite a lack of evidence.

I would say that "to be swayed by someone" is a much more poetic expression than "gullible".

"To be swayed" also is more a matter of changing one's opinion. If you are swayed by someone's argument, then you change your mind. You didn't necessarily blindly trust them.

Gullible is simply more formal and concise and has a sense of stupidity and naivete.

"To buy someone" or "to buy what someone else says" is more colloquial, and has a sense of listening without discrimination.

However, you could also just say believes.

"She is someone who believes other people too easily."
or trust:
"She is someone who trusts other people too easily."

• English (US)

She gets very swayed by others/She gets easily swayed by others.
--> She is easily swayed by others/She gets swayed easily (by others)
Someone who does not have a strong opinion (on the subject) and tends to easily change their mind based on what others say. First form is more formal, second more colloquial (conversational).

She easily buys others --> She easily buys into others' ideas/buys what others say.
Without context, "to buy others" could mean physically purchasing something (ie. people), which is why I would suggest "to buy into/to buy what they say" for clarity. This would be used more casually, and with those who understand what "to buy in" means.

She's gullible.
To use the verb "to be" after a subject can be more definitive (defining a person by their tendencies/actions, not necessarily looking at circ*mstances or the possibility for individual change). This would not be a nice thing to say, but would be a concise way of saying "she doesn't think for herself/is easily deceived/too trusting of others."

• Korean

Thank you so much!