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Synonym Chooser

How is the word naive different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of naive are artless, ingenuous, natural, and unsophisticated. While all these words mean "free from pretension or calculation," naive suggests lack of worldly wisdom often connoting credulousness and unchecked innocence.

politically naive

When can artless be used instead of naive?

The meanings of artless and naive largely overlap; however, artless suggests a naturalness resulting from unawareness of the effect one is producing on others.

artless charm

When is it sensible to use ingenuous instead of naive?

Although the words ingenuous and naive have much in common, ingenuous implies inability to disguise or conceal one's feelings or intentions.

the ingenuous enthusiasm of children

When would natural be a good substitute for naive?

The synonyms natural and naive are sometimes interchangeable, but natural implies lacking artificiality and self-consciousness and having a spontaneousness suggesting the natural rather than the man-made world.

her unaffected, natural manner

In what contexts can unsophisticated take the place of naive?

While in some cases nearly identical to naive, unsophisticated implies a lack of experience and training necessary for social ease and adroitness.

unsophisticated adolescents

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of naive Morrow should not have this easy a time at infiltrating Prodigy vis-a-vis naive children. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025 The problematic deal doesn't just set ChatGPT as the only chatbot linked to Siri and other naive iPhone features, the lawsuit alleged. Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2025 In actor-writer-director Ustinov’s tackling of Herman Melville’s seafaring 18th-century novel, the young stage actor starred as the titular naïve young seaman who suffers under the sadistic whims of his superior Claggart (Robert Ryan) and is eventually falsely accused of a crime. Christina Newland, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025 Luanne, Hank’s angelic and naive niece who filled out the Hill family, was voiced by Brittany Murphy, who died in 2009, and her role was not recast out of respect. Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for naive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naive
Adjective
  • Unless more Democrats start being realistic, many more innocent people will unfortunately continue to suffer.
    Christopher Tremoglie, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Ben Lewis Doherty, playing a boy named Sam whose life is upended by Robbie, is the show’s greatest innocent, a softhearted moppet who warns deer to be careful when crossing the street.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Algorithmic Literacy requires genuine technical comprehension of AI capabilities, constraints, and ethical implications.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • But despite a certain staginess, and a tendency for the plot to suddenly stop to make way for the acting, Hedda is actually a genuine attempt to mine something new from the old text, a compelling fusion of Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn and Stephen Fry’s Bright Young Things.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The bipartisan vote signals that the final passage will likely be easy to gain as the upper chamber looks to pass the defense bill this month.
    Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Perhaps the easiest was an airplane flying overhead.
    Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Since the election, Reform has tried to refashion itself from a protest vote party to one that could govern – untried and inexperienced, but ready to step in if the Labour Party buckles under its own blunders, and the once-mighty Conservatives drift further into political irrelevance.
    Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
  • His emergence has enabled a talented, inexperienced team find its early identity.
    Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But all friends need to be honest with each other, to tell each other home truths when it’s needed, to confront those awkward moments without fear of the reaction.
    Steve Sedgwick, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
  • But when those larger firms start to adopt similar habits—open forums, early interventions, honest check-ins—things change fast.
    Stephan Lendi, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The first couple spirals into assumptions and resentment, while the second remains steady and trusting.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • With just a few chairs, a handful of tables and a simple tent, the setting was intimate but filled with love and intention.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • And one of these, for those of us accustomed to British conventions but who follow the game in continental Europe, is the simple passage of time.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Redshirt junior Colton Boomer and true freshman Canaan Moore ach missed a field goal — Boomer from 46 yards and Moore from 24.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Red maple Red maple stays true to its name.
    Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Naive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naive. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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