naïveté

na·ïve·té

noun
\nä-ˌēv-ˈtā, -ˌē-və-; nä-ˈēv-ˌtā, -ˈē-və-; nī-\

Definition of NAÏVETÉ

1

: a naive remark or action

2

: the quality or state of being naive

Variants of NAÏVETÉ

na·ïve·té also na·ive·te or na·ive·té \nä-ˌēv-ˈtā, -ˌē-və-; nä-ˈēv-ˌtā, -ˈē-və-; nī-\

Examples of NAÏVETÉ

1. <her naïveté led her to leave her new car unlocked while she shopped at the mall>
2. <though he was streetwise, the investigative reporter regularly assumed an air of naïveté when he was interviewing confidence men, charlatans, counterfeiters, and other assorted swindlers of the general public>

Origin of NAÏVETÉ

French naïveté, from Old French, inborn character, from naif

First Known Use: 1673

Related to NAÏVETÉ

Synonyms: artlessness, greenness, guilelessness, ingenuousness, innocence, naiveness, naivety (also naïvety) [chiefly British], naturalness, simplemindedness, simpleness, simplicity, unsophistication, unworldliness, viridity

Antonyms: artfulness, cynicism, knowingness, sophistication, worldliness

Related Words: candor, frankness, genuineness, honesty, openness, sincerity, straightforwardness, unaffectedness, unpretentiousness; callowness, childishness, coltishness, inexperience, rawness; insularity, parochialism, provincialism; carelessness, heedlessness, thoughtlessness; ignorance, obliviousness, unawareness; credulity, credulousness, gullibility, impressionability; idealism, impracticality, optimism

Near Antonyms: affectedness, artificiality, pretentiousness; deviousness, dishonesty, insincerity; disbelief, doubtfulness, incredulity, suspiciousness; carefulness, caution, street smarts, wariness; pessimism, skepticism; maturity

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide