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
Still, Dunk believes in himself, like any good hero, and people are drawn to his guilelessness.
—
Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2026
But there’s a guilelessness to everything Bella does, a trust in the universe and an insatiable curiosity about humanity.
—Katie Rife, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025
Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2026
But there’s a guilelessness to everything Bella does, a trust in the universe and an insatiable curiosity about humanity.
—Katie Rife, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guilelessness
Noun
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In 1995, Taschen published his first book, which made a stir with portraits of soft, indirect illumination, emphasizing naturalness.—
Steve Appleford,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
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The filmmakers on Saturday also discussed working with children on set, with both lauding young people’s naturalness and authenticity.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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During his sentencing hearing, Serafini addressed the court and maintained his innocence, according to MyNews4.—
Jessica Hill,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
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Sanheim didn’t exactly push Eyssimont into the crease and Sturm elected not to challenge, despite Eyssimont’s protestations of innocence.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Liu’s answer was striking in its simplicity.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
3 Mar. 2026
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One of the star dishes of Tex-Mex cuisine that shines for its simplicity but exceeds in flavor.—
Imelda García,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Played with ample sincerity by Jack Quaid, Richie seems like a good dude in a bad situation.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
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These forces—economic uncertainty, political division, and toxic algorithms—work in a vicious cycle to try and tell us that empathy is weakness… that kindness is gullibility… that sincerity is for suckers.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
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 5 Mar. 2026.
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