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Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of artless are ingenuous, naive, natural, and unsophisticated. While all these words mean "free from pretension or calculation," 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 artless?

While the synonyms ingenuous and artless are close in meaning, ingenuous implies inability to disguise or conceal one's feelings or intentions.

the ingenuous enthusiasm of children

When would naive be a good substitute for artless?

Although the words naive and artless have much in common, naive suggests lack of worldly wisdom often connoting credulousness and unchecked innocence.

politically naive

Where would natural be a reasonable alternative to artless?

While in some cases nearly identical to artless, natural implies lacking artificiality and self-consciousness and having a spontaneousness suggesting the natural rather than the man-made world.

her unaffected, natural manner

When might unsophisticated be a better fit than artless?

The synonyms unsophisticated and artless are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 artless The untenable toxicity of this artless warfare has led some researchers to rethink the ancient script—and flip it: know yourself, know your enemy. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 15 July 2024 His desire to control his own story may account for why his book about his years hiding under the fatwa, 2012’s Joseph Anton: A Memoir, was so artless, a tome of grievances and gripes; that was Great Man Rushdie laying claim to his own existence as intellectual property. Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2024 Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Belmondo are Patricia and Michel, the gamine and the criminal, simultaneously artless and deliberate. Ew Staff, EW.com, 7 May 2024 His pictures look perfectly artless, the opposite of the decisive moment and the epitome of the snapshot aesthetic. Vince Aletti, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2024 See All Example Sentences for artless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for artless
Adjective
  • Thirty to 100 percent increases are being asked for apartments built since 1947 and therefore unaffected by rent-control laws.
    Nicholas Pileggi, Curbed, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Some of the areas most closely watched for tariff impact nationwide were largely unaffected.
    David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Any move to unify systems and say goodbye to clumsy data management couldn't be more crucial—or opportune.
    Charles Crouchman, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Every summer a disposable camera was tucked into my camp bag, where clumsy photos, often with a thumb peeking in, were snapped with reckless abandon.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The most effective solution lies in embracing genuine flexibility.
    Rob Lydic, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • With big sponsors such as Barclays, promoters like Live Nation and even investors like Blackrock, Vanguard and KKR now a target for activists, there’s a genuine fear that the tap could be turned off.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Think scarf head coverings for women in Catholic churches, shoe removal for all to enter a mosque, yarmulkes required for men in synagogues, but also pay attention to the cultural norms away from houses of worship and behave accordingly to avoid being considered a rude American.
    Jenny Peters, Oc Register, 4 Aug. 2025
  • The Reddit community nearly unanimously branded the boyfriend as rude and tone-deaf.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • But it was intended to be a simple, three-course meal, the documents showed.
    Chiara Eisner, NPR, 16 Aug. 2025
  • In North Carolina, Republicans are a few votes shy of a supermajority in one chamber but still control the redistricting process because the state’s congressional maps are not subject to veto and therefore can be passed by a simple majority in the legislature.
    Elena Shao, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The crude oil leak from a train that derailed in Dodge County on Aug. 15 has been contained, officials said.
    David Clarey, jsonline.com, 16 Aug. 2025
  • The other measures the company is proposing include improvements to its fluidized catalytic-cracking units, which help turn crude oil into gasoline, and installing carbon monoxide analyzers to ensure equipment is running efficiently.
    Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Creatively, the book features specific talking points to spark transparent and honest conversations.
    Essence, Essence, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Naturally, romantic commitments could become affected by the trajectory of your professional goals, so be honest with yourself.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • My mother, just beneath her skin, housed a palpable rage, and my father’s cheeks were pocked and rough from ingrown hairs.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Battlefield 6 hype is losing a bit of steam with changes to its second beta run, involving new additions, controversial decisions and rough retreads of old modes.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Artless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/artless. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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