as in naturalness
the quality or state of being simple and sincere
the small-town boy's guilelessness is endearing, but it may not serve him well in the ruthless big city
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Recent Examples of guilelessness
On a humid evening in May, Patricia Lockwood, who writes with the impish verve and provocative guilelessness of a peeing cupid, was scanning the menu at a Mexican restaurant near her home, in Savannah, Georgia.
—
Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guilelessness
Noun
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An accurate line design directly affects the naturalness of the hair transplant results.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
IndyStar,
6 Oct. 2025
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But the movie is a sweet star showcase that belongs unequivocally to the incandescent Maura, whose earthy naturalness, sly humor and tenacious spirit feed a direct link back to her Almodóvarian glory days.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But from the beginning, Vedam, a permanent legal resident of the United States, maintained his innocence of the murder charges.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
15 Oct. 2025
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His family maintains his innocence.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Secret Agent opens in stark simplicity.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
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As for the overall style, Thevenot gravitates toward simplicity, suggesting something in the center of the updo-to-hair-down spectrum.—
Anneke Knot,
Allure,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Several applauded Clark’s transparency and sincerity.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
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Critics after the screening agreed that when given a character perfectly tailored to his strengths (cocky sincerity, charismatic twerpiness), Timmy is a live wire.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Gilbert’s colloquial style, once a source of great pleasure, has tipped into new territory—an ingenuousness that blends guru and disciple, mother and child.—
Jia Tolentino,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Guilelessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guilelessness. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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