naïf

¹na·ïf

adjective \nä-ˈēf\

Definition of NAÏF

: naive

Variants of NAÏF

na·ïf or na·if \nä-ˈēf\

Examples of NAÏF

1. <the senator, newly elected and still naïf, will learn soon enough how Washington really works>

Origin of NAÏF

French

First Known Use: 1598

Related to NAÏF

Synonyms

aw-shucks, dewy, dewy-eyed, green, ingenuous, innocent, naive (or naif), primitive, simple, simpleminded, uncritical, unknowing, unsophisticated, unsuspecting, unsuspicious, unwary, unworldly, wide-eyed

Antonyms

cosmopolitan, experienced, knowing, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise

Related Words

callow, childish, immature, inexperienced, raw; childlike, idealistic, impractical, unrealistic; believing, credulous, gullible (also gullable), susceptible, trustful, trusting, unguarded; beguiled, duped, gulled, tricked; careless, heedless, thoughtless

Near Antonyms

critical, cynical, doubting, incredulous, skeptical, suspecting, suspicious, unconvinced; careful, cautious, guarded, leery (also leary), wary, watchful; down-to-earth, hardheaded, pragmatic (also pragmatical), realistic, sober; street-smart, streetwise

Rhymes with NAÏF

bay leaf, belief, crew chief, debrief, drop leaf, endleaf, enfeoff, fig leaf, fire chief, flyleaf, gold leaf, in brief, in chief, kerchief, loose-leaf, massif, motif, O'Keeffe, red leaf, relief, sharif, shinleaf, sneak thief, Tallchief

²naïf

noun

Definition of NAÏF

: a naive person

Variants of NAÏF

naïf or naif

First Known Use of NAÏF

1893