wide-eyed

adjective

ˈwīd-ˈīd 

1

: having or marked by unsophisticated or uncritical acceptance or admiration : naive

wide-eyed innocence

2

: having the eyes wide open especially with wonder or astonishment

Synonyms of wide-eyed

• naive
• innocent
• inexperienced
• simple

Examples of wide-eyed in a Sentence

a wide-eyed and trusting child

the sort of phony UFO "artifacts" that wide-eyed tourists fall for

Recent Examples on the Web

So too does Ostan who navigates Lucija’s emerging libido with a wide-eyed innocence on the tipping point of something revelatory and even ethereal. —David Opie, IndieWire, 4 Dec. 2025

Its hero is wide-eyed Elvira (Lea Myren), one of the supposedly pushy stepsisters who made the angelic (and, of course, gorgeous) Cinderella’s life such hell. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025

But some of them prey on us—the wide-eyed, overtired first-time parents still finding our footing, desperate to get out of the house, not knowing what to do or where to go. —Lauren Boswell, Parents, 30 Nov. 2025

Matilda has inherited her mom's wide-eyed wonder. —Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 30 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for wide-eyed

• acetamide
• acetonide
• acidified
• antimonide
• beatified
• benzaldehyde
• borohydride
• chalcogenide
• commodified
• decalcified
• declassified
• disaccharide

Kids Definition

wide-eyed

adjective

ˈwīd-ˈīd

1

: having the eyes wide open especially with wonder or astonishment

2

: naive sense 2