1
as in genuine
free from any intent to deceive or impress others
photographs that capture the ingenuous smiles of young children at play
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 ingenuous
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
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
There’s something soft about the play, a little ingenuous and underbrewed.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2024
Heathcliff, of course, is the prime example, growing from an ingenuous child into a glowering adult who spins all the considerable evil ever done to him — much of it based on race and class — into justification for his long game of retribution.
—Laura Collins-Hughes, New York Times, 18 Oct. 2022
His greatest hope for the future, Meghan is a high school senior at a horsy boarding school in the Washington area and possibly the most ingenuous girl since Alice in Wonderland.
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2022
Colman has become a go-to actor for masking pained personal histories behind either brittle snappishness or bluff affability; Reid’s ingenuous, old-soul charm is a winning foil for that defensive quality.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 July 2022
Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Diller soon struck a deal with Rupert Murdoch—then posing as an ingenuous newcomer to America—to buy Fox and merge it with Metromedia, a group of television stations owned by John Kluge.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
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
There’s something soft about the play, a little ingenuous and underbrewed.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2024
Heathcliff, of course, is the prime example, growing from an ingenuous child into a glowering adult who spins all the considerable evil ever done to him — much of it based on race and class — into justification for his long game of retribution.
—Laura Collins-Hughes, New York Times, 18 Oct. 2022
His greatest hope for the future, Meghan is a high school senior at a horsy boarding school in the Washington area and possibly the most ingenuous girl since Alice in Wonderland.
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2022
Colman has become a go-to actor for masking pained personal histories behind either brittle snappishness or bluff affability; Reid’s ingenuous, old-soul charm is a winning foil for that defensive quality.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 July 2022
Noun
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ingenuous
Adjective
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Zelenskyy said on Monday that Kyiv intends to expand such attacks, which Ukrainian officials and commanders have framed as a means to undermine Moscow's war effort and force the Kremlin into genuine negotiations.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
3 Sep. 2025
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What often emerges from these operations is a community that appreciates accountability where genuine growth can take place.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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At 24, Stamp’s portrayal of the naive, angelic sailor earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer, and instant stardom.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Aug. 2025
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Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines from across the Apple world, including iPhone 17 Pro release dates, new iPhone 17 design cues, iOS update warning, the low-end MacBook, Apple’s Cards anniversary shake-up, F1 movie finds more success, and a naive UK request denied.—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The naturalness bias is deeply ingrained in Kennedy’s MAHA campaign, which aims to improve public health by returning to a more natural lifestyle.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Most notably, his sector-specific levies on steel and aluminum remain unaffected by the appeals court's ruling.—
Erin Doherty,
CNBC,
30 Aug. 2025
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As highly-invasive golden mussels spread across California waterways, officials are urging boaters to take thorough precautions to avoid introducing the species to unaffected waters over the busy Labor Day weekend.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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But on June 26 his bold voice fell forever silent when a tragic fire in the Austin neighborhood took three innocent lives, his among them.—
Steve Sewall,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Aug. 2025
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How did an innocent 20-year-old American kid in a foreign country, without any family around her or any language, end up wrongfully convicted and spending four years in prison?—
Maer Roshan,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Cross found prosecutors withheld evidence from Jones' lawyers during the first trial that could have resulted in jurors reaching a different conclusion about his guilt or innocence.—
Dan Horn,
The Enquirer,
3 Sep. 2025
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Mills also denied there was a physical altercation and has maintained his innocence in the matter.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images While the Fever continue to wait for Clark's return, one of her teammates has spoken out with honest words about the superstar guard.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Aug. 2025
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This is a man with no filter, a coach who's honest to a fault.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Business managers must make decisions ranging from simple tasks, such as ordering office supplies, to more complex matters like company layoffs.—
Mark LaSota,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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What fans see under the lights, however, wouldn’t look so simple without Zdon’s expansive amount of work behind the scenes.—
Steve Reaven,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ingenuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ingenuous. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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