as in unaffected
free from any intent to deceive or impress others
she was an easygoing, guileless young woman who was comfortable just being herself
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Recent Examples of guileless
The child is as smart and cunning as Dunk is thick and guileless.
—
Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Ardies plays Hulda, a guileless girl, full of excitement at the prospect of womanhood.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 6 Dec. 2025
The key for all these people has been a great smile — broad, toothy, guileless — to emphasize the schism between the Others’ experience of togetherness and Carol’s deepening loneliness.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
Whereas the title Amerika emphasizes the setting, The Missing Person points to the novel’s focus on the travails of a guileless hero struggling to find his footing in a frenetic new world.
—Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for guileless
Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Ardies plays Hulda, a guileless girl, full of excitement at the prospect of womanhood.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 6 Dec. 2025
The key for all these people has been a great smile — broad, toothy, guileless — to emphasize the schism between the Others’ experience of togetherness and Carol’s deepening loneliness.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
Whereas the title Amerika emphasizes the setting, The Missing Person points to the novel’s focus on the travails of a guileless hero struggling to find his footing in a frenetic new world.
—Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for guileless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guileless
Adjective
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Primaries for the state's three other House seats unaffected by redrawing were held last week.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
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Earlier this month, Reform UK, a right-wing populist group promoting stricter border controls, shattered any illusion that Liverpool, which since the 1980s has been associated with the left, is unaffected by political tides.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Adjective
-
The plants and vines have grown, the tufu limestone has mellowed, the staff have bedded in, and the feel that this is a genuine Puglian village (even though it was built entirely from scratch) has been sealed.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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In this period before culture was so profoundly professionalized, populism and pluralism were genuine material questions of public participation, access, and power.—
Katy Siegel,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
And to be honest, my biggest fear is AI.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
According to an Axios-Ipsos poll released in 2025, more than 70% of Americans believe that most politicians aren’t honest about their health.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
The allegations are that the defendant was impaired, failed to properly secure two young children, and then caused a crash that left one child dead, another seriously injured, and an innocent driver badly hurt.—
Gino Vicci,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
-
Concurrently, the Met botch their way through their investigation, diverting all their attention to an entirely innocent man while ignoring the serial offender under their nose.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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The actor, 39, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of simple battery in a Louisiana criminal court Wednesday, June 3, according to records obtained by USA TODAY.—
Liza Esquibias,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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At the time, the New Orleans Police Department confirmed its officers charged LaBeouf with two counts of simple battery for allegedly assaulting two men near a bar in the French Quarter.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
There are past precedents for how that is not true.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
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With its overall Life in Balance philosophy, Miraval Resorts and Spas has led the way in recognizing just how valuable and restorative a true connection with other humans and the natural environment can be.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Erin Dubreuil leads the cast as Cady, credibly playing a naive teen, but with the vocal and dance chops of an experienced pro.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 June 2026
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Palace require depth, and loaning anyone who is considered to be able to play a part would be naive.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Guileless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guileless. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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