as in naturalness
the quality or state of being simple and sincere
his aw-shucks ingenuousness endeared him to his sophisticated new friends
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Recent Examples of ingenuousness
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
Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ingenuousness
Noun
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As a national icon, the Natural Bridge served as a quiet, Emersonian rebuke to Europe’s militaristic triumphal arches, reinforcing the naturalness of American democracy.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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That ease and naturalness are paramount to Copeland.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But Steve still maintains his daughter's innocence, speaking on Wednesday's episode of the True Crime This Week podcast to make the case once more.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 June 2026
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From beginning to end, there’s a joyfulness and a boyish innocence to IOI’s new iteration of the character, which surprised me.—
Alex James Kane,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Noun
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The project posed several issues for an artist who had always emphasized clarity and simplicity in his solitary picture-taking.—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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Baoase is also transporting, as any memorable hotel should be, with a strong Asian-esque design that includes ubiquitous Balinese Hindu statues, idols, and sculptures, and a reliance on simplicity over dazzle.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
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What is necessary for a successful religious accommodation request is sincerity, Paul told USA TODAY.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
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While many fans have questioned the sincerity of the effort that A’s owner John Fisher and MLB made to keep the A’s in Oakland, MLB officials also grew frustrated by the process.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Noun
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Still, Dunk believes in himself, like any good hero, and people are drawn to his guilelessness.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Ingenuousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ingenuousness. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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