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

Bennie Liebenberg, a former geologist at the mine who was serving as our guide, has the plodding, slightly wide-eyed manner of someone who has spent a lot of time underground. — James Dinneen, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026

Camp Rock 3 echoes that first film by introducing wide-eyed campers on paths to self-discovery and self-awareness through music. — Allison McClain Merrill, Parents, 12 Aug. 2026

Araki, who never met Hoffman’s father, the late actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, saw himself in the young, artistic, wide-eyed role. — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 5 Aug. 2026

This is just one of many, many kinky situations Hoffman encounters as Elliot, a meek, wide-eyed college graduate who enters into a sadomasochistic relationship with gallery owner Erika Tracey (Olivia Wilde). — Anna Tingley, Variety, 31 July 2026

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