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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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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After decades of maintaining his innocence, Vedam’s conviction was thrown out by a judge in August after it was revealed that prosecutors had withheld potentially critical ballistics evidence during his two trials.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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The Pima County Sheriff’s Department emphasized the innocence of the siblings and their spouses in a statement released Monday, pleading with the media and public to leave the beleaguered family alone.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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How Tide evo Works Tide evo was clearly developed with simplicity top of mind.—
Joseph Erbentraut,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Feb. 2026
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Blending simplicity and durability, additional elements include cobranded details and dual‑lace options, allowing for personalization.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Turner manages to put across this supreme shallowness with total sincerity.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
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No one with sincerity agrees with a group on all things 100% of the time.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Feb. 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 19 Feb. 2026.
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