Credible vs Creditable Quiz: Test Yourself
Five quick questions on credible vs creditable. Pick an answer to get instant feedback.
Flip Cards: Quick Review
Hover over a card, or tap it on mobile, to see the meaning.
Believable or trustworthy.
“She was a credible witness.”
Deserving credit or praise.
“The team gave a creditable performance.”
Too ready to believe. Gullible.
“The credulous buyer trusted the scam.”
Not a word. A misspelling of credible or creditable.
Pick the right one by meaning.
People mix up credible vs creditable because the two words look almost identical and both come from the idea of belief and trust. Add the misspelling “crediable,” and it gets harder to tell which one you need. Here is how to choose.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credible | Believable; worthy of trust | Adjective | The police found a credible witness. |
| Creditable | Deserving credit or praise | Adjective | It was a creditable result for a new team. |
| Credulous | Too willing to believe; gullible | Adjective | The credulous reader believed every headline. |
| Incredible | Hard to believe; also, amazing | Adjective | The view from the summit was incredible. |
| Crediable | Not a real word | Misspelling | Incorrect. Use credible or creditable. |
What does credible mean?
Credible means able to be believed or trusted. It describes things like witnesses, sources, evidence, stories and threats, and it comes from Latin credibilis, meaning worthy of belief.
Examples: “The study cited credible evidence,” and “His excuse wasn’t credible.” The noun is credibility, and the opposite is not credible or implausible.
What does creditable mean?
Creditable means deserving credit, honor or praise. It is formed from credit plus -able, and dictionaries record it from the 1520s.
It usually describes actions, results or performances: a creditable effort, a creditable second place. The tone is usually positive but modest, meaning good enough to earn respect rather than outstanding. The opposite is discreditable.
Credible vs creditable: how do they differ?
Credible is about whether you can believe something, and creditable is about whether it earns praise. Ask yourself: “Can I believe it?” That is credible. “Does it deserve credit?” That is creditable.
One sentence can use both: “The report that she did a creditable job is credible.” Historically, creditable could also mean believable, but dictionaries now mark that sense as obsolete, so use credible for belief.
Is “crediable” a real word?
No. Crediable is not an English word. It is a typo or blend of credible and creditable, so you need to decide which meaning you intended.
If you meant believable, write credible. If you meant praiseworthy, write creditable. Spell-checkers sometimes miss the swap because both are real words, so check the meaning yourself.
What about credulous and incredible?
Credulous means gullible, or too willing to believe. It is a different word from credible even though both come from the same root. Incredible literally means not credible, but in casual speech it often means amazing.
How can you remember credible vs creditable?
Link credible to belief and creditable to credit. The memory tricks below help you pick quickly.
Memory tricks
- Believe or bravo. Credible is “believe.” Creditable earns a “bravo.”
- Spot the credit. The word credit is hidden inside creditable, so it goes with credit and praise.
- Witness test. If you could say it about a witness, use credible. If you could say it about a performance, use creditable.
Common mistakes
- ✗ She is a creditable witness.
✓ She is a credible witness. - ✗ It was a credible effort for a first try.
✓ It was a creditable effort for a first try. - ✗ That excuse isn’t crediable.
✓ That excuse isn’t credible. - ✗ The team gave a crediable performance, finishing fifth.
✓ The team gave a creditable performance, finishing fifth. - ✗ The report cited a credulous source.
✓ The report cited a credible source.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between credible and creditable?
Credible means believable or trustworthy, while creditable means deserving praise or credit.
Is crediable a word?
No. Crediable is a misspelling of credible, meaning believable, or creditable, meaning praiseworthy.
Can creditable mean credible?
Historically it could, but dictionaries now label that meaning obsolete. Use credible when you mean believable.
What does a creditable performance mean?
It is a performance good enough to earn respect or praise, though not necessarily outstanding.
What is the difference between credible and credulous?
Credible means believable. Credulous means too ready to believe, or gullible.
Conclusion
The credible vs creditable choice comes down to belief versus praise: credible things can be believed, and creditable things deserve credit. Skip “crediable” altogether and pick the word that matches your meaning. Share this with someone who mixes these up, then retake the quiz above.