Synonyms of ingenuous

ingenuous

adjective

in-ˈjen-yə-wəs 

1

as in genuine

free from any intent to deceive or impress others

photographs that capture the ingenuous smiles of young children at play

Synonyms & Similar Words

• genuine
• unaffected
• honest
• simple
• innocent
• true
• naive
• guileless
• sincere
• artless
• real
• straightforward
• unpretending
• spontaneous
• unpretentious
• inexperienced
• natural
• on the level
• candid
• childlike
• unsophisticated
• frank
• unworldly
• impressionable
• simpleminded
• wide-eyed
• malleable
• open
• unstudied
• unforced
• trustful
• direct
• plain
• openhearted
• straight
• plainspoken
• unguarded
• gee-whiz
• trusting
• gullible
• dewy-eyed
• persuadable
• single-minded
• persuasible
• free-spoken
• free
• susceptible
• exploitable
• unwary

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• false
• artful
• cynical
• artificial
• dishonest
• critical
• assuming
• insincere
• pretentious
• skeptical
• suspicious
• sophisticated
• phony
• affected
• fake
• wary
• worldly
• mistrustful
• guileful
• cosmopolitan
• civilized
• deceptive
• polished
• cultured
• refined
• devious
• deceitful
• dissembling
• shrewd
• cunning
• manipulative
• hypocritical
• sly
• subtle
• cultivated
• dissimulating
• worldly-wise
• crooked
• wily
• crafty
• sharp
• smooth
• underhanded
• slick
• shifty
• slippery
• tricky
• scheming
• designing
• foxy
• calculating
• flattering
• unctuous
• arch
• feigned
• knavish
• double-dealing
• two-faced
• strained
• canny
• forced
• sycophantic
• mealymouthed

2

as in naive

lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment

the story of an ingenuous newcomer to the big city who outwits the slickers at their own game

Synonyms & Similar Words

• naive
• innocent
• simple
• inexperienced
• primitive
• immature
• unsophisticated
• unsuspicious
• uncritical
• unworldly
• simpleminded
• unsuspecting
• childish
• dewy
• naïf
• unknowing
• green
• wide-eyed
• unwary
• aw-shucks
• trustful
• dewy-eyed
• childlike
• idealistic
• trusting
• callow
• credulous
• careless
• impractical
• believing
• gullible
• unrealistic
• thoughtless
• susceptible
• unguarded
• raw
• heedless
• beguiled
• gulled
• duped
• tricked

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sophisticated
• worldly
• cynical
• experienced
• cosmopolitan
• knowing
• critical
• skeptical
• incredulous
• suspicious
• careful
• cautious
• unconvinced
• worldly-wise
• watchful
• wary
• pragmatic
• realistic
• guarded
• leery
• doubting
• down-to-earth
• sober
• hardheaded
• suspecting
• streetwise
• street-smart

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of ingenuous are artless, naive, natural, and unsophisticated. While all these words mean "free from pretension or calculation," ingenuous implies inability to disguise or conceal one's feelings or intentions.

the ingenuous enthusiasm of children

When could artless be used to replace ingenuous?

In some situations, the words artless and ingenuous are roughly equivalent. However, artless suggests a naturalness resulting from unawareness of the effect one is producing on others.

artless charm

When is naive a more appropriate choice than ingenuous?

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

politically naive

When can natural be used instead of ingenuous?

The meanings of natural and ingenuous largely overlap; however, 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 would unsophisticated be a good substitute for ingenuous?

While in some cases nearly identical to ingenuous, unsophisticated implies a lack of experience and training necessary for social ease and adroitness.

unsophisticated adolescents

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ingenuous

Modern Love used a photo of David Bowie in a long dress as his profile picture, and so the ingenuous, myopic Floyd expects a woman. —Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026

Unbeknownst to her parents, the sweetly ingenuous Katie has made friends with the generously candy-dispensing family next door, and is abducted one afternoon in the midst of a sweeping windstorm — a standout setpiece, awash in roiled dust and rising panic. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026

Ross, meanwhile, exudes suspiciously ingenuous charisma as the heavily accented voice coming out of Meek’s Speak & Spell. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026

The former spouses co-parent an ingenuous teen, Carmelo (Jalyn Hall). —Judy Berman, Time, 20 Feb. 2026

By the water’s edge, her insecure 25-year-old son, Konstantin (Kodi Smit-McPhee), is mounting a post-apocalyptic play in which his enduring love, ingenuous country girl Nina (Emma Corrin), can act. —Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 12 Feb. 2025

Jennifer Johnson Cano’s mezzo-soprano was smoothly plangent as Emilia; the tenor Pene Pati was a sweetly ingenuous Cassio. —New York Times, 22 May 2022

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