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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 All that’s there is an artless effort to provoke outrage — Tony Hinchcliffe with the world’s strongest Boston accent. Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024 The effort of analyzing this video, a piece of artless misinformation, was beneath Abu Hamdan, who has dedicated himself to unveiling the violence of the world through the medium of sound. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024 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 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 See All Example Sentences for artless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for artless
Adjective
  • Kam Patterson is funny here as the one unaffected participant, who curiously studied Gothic Literature!
    Andy Hoglund, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Tech contributions in this straight-on underslant are appropriately unaffected.
    Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Even the basic details of the situation can sound like the clumsy plot of some apocalyptic thriller.
    Simon Shuster, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
  • An exceptionally clumsy device.
    Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Thune, due to the Senate filibuster, has been forced to take a more nuanced approach, using a combination of political pressure and genuine outreach.
    David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Advertisement But political divisions remained because of genuine ideological differences.
    Time, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • It’s still considered rude, and people on both sides tend to feel bad about it, albeit in different ways.
    Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Is it meant to suggest something about focaccia’s typically dimpled surface, in which case … kinda rude?
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • While House Republicans can pass legislation with a simple majority vote, Senate Republicans cannot advance most matters without meeting a 60-vote threshold.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2025
  • But in stoppage time, Miami was gifted a third goal when Jordi Alba crossed from the left and keeper Willis, colliding with defender Walker Zimmerman, spilled the ball right to Messi, who had the simplest of tap-ins.
    The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Joseph previously worked for an Emirati company, Global Shipping Group, and was also the signatory for three other tankers sanctioned for transporting Iranian crude oil.
    Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Some Sora users depicted King making crude jokes and other inappropriate content.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Her fashion designer husband, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and honest services wire and mail fraud, was sentenced to five months behind bars, two years of supervised release, 250 hours of community service, and a $250,000 fine.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Be honest and then seek out stretch experiences, reading and other ways to learn to fill those gaps.
    Vicki Salemi, Boston Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The advanced energy management system elevates the ride experience, allowing users to push boundaries with confidence—whether tackling steep hills, rough paths, or long-distance adventures.
    Matt Emma, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Even so, rough surf and rip currents could spread along the US East Coast next week.
    Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Artless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/artless. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

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